Welcome back to our ongoing series breaking down the new laws coming out of Smith Hill. The General Assembly had a productive session, and several notable bills signed this summer will affect the daily lives of many Rhode Islanders. From what you can do behind the wheel to what your kids can access at the school library, we’re looking at some significant changes to the state’s legal framework.
First, the state has updated its distracted driving rules with a new bill, S0576, that goes beyond the previous texting-while-driving ban. The new law prohibits drivers from using a handheld device for pretty much any reason while the vehicle is in motion. That red light is no longer an invitation to check your email or scroll through social media. You can still use a GPS or navigation app, provided the device is mounted, and you can activate or deactivate functions with a single tap or swipe. But holding that phone in your hand is now a citable offense, with fines starting at $100. Oddly, the law makes exemptions for emergency personnel and some professional drivers, which conflicts with the bill’s implication that distracted driving can lead to accidents.
In a move that puts Rhode Island at the center of a national conversation, the legislature passed S0238, also known as The Freedom to Read Act. This is the state’s direct response to the surge in attempts to ban books from school and public libraries. The law prohibits removing library materials because of objections to the author’s background or the ideas within the book. More pointedly, it creates a standardized, professional process for reconsidering a book, and requires that the material remain on the shelves during the review…