Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H8191

Introduced

2/27/26

Refer

2/27/26

Caption

Provides proper authority for the division of taxation to provide HSRI with contact information for Rhode Islanders who report they were uninsured on their RI state income tax return.

Impact

The bill is designed to enhance the Rhode Island health benefits exchange's ability to contact individuals who report being uninsured on their state income tax returns, assuming they do not opt out of such notifications. By allowing the tax division to disclose information about uninsured residents, the act aims to encourage enrollment in health insurance plans. The underlying intent is to strengthen the state's health insurance market by facilitating enrollment and reducing the number of uninsured individuals in Rhode Island. Additionally, it seeks to establish a self-sustaining mechanism for managing the health insurance market integrity fund created under prior legislation.

Summary

House Bill H8191 aims to amend provisions related to personal income tax in Rhode Island, specifically addressing the requirements for maintaining minimum essential health insurance coverage. The bill establishes a framework under which residents are mandated to maintain health coverage and outlines penalties for failing to meet this obligation. More specifically, it imposes a shared responsibility payment penalty for individuals who do not indicate proper coverage on their tax returns. This penalty is comparable to federal standards and linked directly to the taxpayer's federal payments under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) regulations, thus maintaining compliance with state and federal tax law.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding H8191 could include concerns about privacy related to data sharing between tax authorities and the health exchange. Critics may view the mandatory sharing of personal data as an overreach, fearing that it could lead to unwanted solicitation or infringe on individual rights. Furthermore, there are apprehensions regarding the accuracy and equity of imposing financial penalties tied to compliance with health insurance mandates. As the ACA's future remains uncertain, the reliance on federal standards for enforcement could also lead to debates regarding state autonomy in managing health coverage requirements.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

RI S0028

Exempts from property taxation, the real and tangible personal property of the Providence Preservation Society.

RI H5369

Exempts from property taxation, the real and tangible personal property of the Providence Preservation Society.

RI H5699

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Codac, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit domestic corporation, located at 45 Royal Little Drive in Providence, Rhode Island.

RI S0498

Exempts from taxation the non-commercial real and tangible personal property of Southside Community Land Trust, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island.

RI S0799

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Codac, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit domestic corporation, located at 45 Royal Little Drive in Providence, Rhode Island.

RI S1132

Exempts from taxation the real and personal property of the Rhode Island Business Development Institute located at 220 Smith Street, Providence.

RI S0191

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of PROJECT Weber/RENEW, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation.

RI H5512

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of PROJECT Weber/RENEW, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation.

RI H6009

Authorizes a retroactive tax credit for tax yr 2026/thereafter/allowing investment tax credits to be passed through to the personal income tax returns of eligible Sub-S corporation shareholders/limited liability company members who meet certain conditions

RI S0244

Increases the Rhode Island earned-income credit to twenty percent (20%) on January 1, 2026. Such credit would not exceed the amount of state income tax.