Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateRhode IslandTo Governor
SB 2975: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE-- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTION -- SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS
Mark McKenney
SB 2975 status: To Governor — 06/24/2026 Effective without Governor's signature (updated Jun 24, 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
60OUT OF 100
Score:60/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Low Impact 25/100
Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan75%
Public opinion70%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill streamlines and simplifies how filing fees are assessed for appeals in small claims and consumer cases within the Rhode Island District Court system.
Who is affected
Individual consumers, small businesses, and litigants participating in the small claims appeal process.
Requirements and enforcement
The district court is required to follow the simplified fee assessment framework established by the act.
Costs and funding
Not stated, though likely entails minor administrative transition costs for the judicial branch.
When it takes effect
Effective as of 06/24/2026.
Potential benefits
Reduces procedural complexity, lowers barriers to entry for appeals, and increases predictability for litigants.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential impact on court revenue and the possibility of increased filing volumes in appellate dockets.
What is still unknown
The long-term fiscal impact on district court operations remains unstated.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- Reduces financial barriers for appellants in small claims
- Simplifies fee structure for consumers
- Lowers administrative overhead for court staff
Risks
- Potential reduction in court fee revenue
- Implementation costs for updating fee schedules
- Risk of increased volume of low-merit appeals
Society
Positive outlook
65%
Benefits
- Improves public access to judicial remedies
- Lowers costs for pro se litigants
- Clarifies procedural expectations for consumers
Risks
- Potential for court docket congestion
- Risk of frivolous litigation increases
- Dependency on court staff for accurate guidance
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Mixed / Neutral
55%
Benefits
- Streamlines procedural court operations
- Improves clarity of fee assessments
- Reduces potential for clerical discretion errors
Risks
- Reduced oversight discretion for court clerks
- Reliance on internal district court efficiency
- Limited external monitoring of fee implementation
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
Potential for minor court processing disruptions during implementation.
Analysis scope
Full bill text is not provided; analysis relies on a brief abstract.
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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