Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateRhode IslandTo Governor
HB 7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE
Susan Donovan
HB 7642 status: To Governor — 06/26/2026 Effective without Governor's signature (updated Jun 26, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
Not enough information
Score:Not enough information
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Low Impact 25/100
Constitutionality75%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
HB 7642 amends the statutory requirements regarding the assessment of filing fees for appeals originating from the Rhode Island district court.
Who is affected
Litigants and legal professionals involved in the appeals process within the district court system.
Requirements and enforcement
The bill mandates compliance with updated fee structures during the filing of appeals.
Costs and funding
Fees may change, but the specific financial burden on litigants cannot be determined from the provided metadata.
When it takes effect
Effective date is June 26, 2026, as the bill became law without the Governor's signature.
Potential benefits
Potential for improved administrative clarity or modernized fee structures for court operations.
Risks and tradeoffs
The potential impact on access to justice, as higher or changed filing fees can act as a barrier for some individuals, remains an unknown variable.
What is still unknown
The exact fee schedule and the extent to which these changes affect specific case types are unknown without the full text.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Downside severity and specific operational impacts cannot be verified due to lack of full bill text.
Analysis scope
Source material is limited to an OpenStates abstract, preventing analysis of specific fee amounts.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorCurrent
- EnactedUpcoming
05
How it affects your district
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06
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