2025 -- H 5592
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LC001534
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND EVALUATE THE
POTENTIAL NECESSITY FOR CHANGES IN THE GENERAL LAWS PERTAINING TO
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND RECREATIONAL CAN NABIS
Introduced By: Representative Joseph J. Solomon
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House Corporations
WHEREAS, Title 3 of the Rhode Island General Laws establishes the regulatory 1
guidelines for the authentic, safe and reliable manufacture, distribution and retail sales of 2
alcoholic beverages; and 3
WHEREAS, Chapter 28.11 of Title 21 of the Rhode Island General Laws legalized 4
recreational cannabis and established similar regulatory guidelines to those established for 5
alcoholic beverages; and 6
WHEREAS, Concerns about safety, authenticity and labor protection have been brought 7
forward through multiple legislative proposals; and 8
WHEREAS, These concerns have raised a genuine need to update the regulatory 9
structures for both alcoholic beverages and recreational cannabis in order to account for current 10
and future industry conditions to provide for the best interest of all stakeholders; now, therefore 11
be it 12
RESOLVED, That a special joint legislative commission be and the same is hereby 13
created consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, 14
not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker; three (3) of 15
whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be 16
appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Director of Business 17
Regulation, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Liquor Operators 18
Collaborative, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Alcoholic Beverage 19
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Wholesale Dealers of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode 1
Island Brewers Guild, or designee; one of whom shall be the Secretary Treasurer of Teamsters 2
Local 251, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of United Food and Commercial 3
Workers Local 328, or designee; and one of whom shall be the Chair of the Cannabis Advisory 4
Board, or designee. 5
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study 6
commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing 7
authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. 8
The purpose of said commission shall be to evaluate and determine what changes, if any, 9
are needed to be made in Title 3 and Chapter 28.11 of Title 21 of the Rhode Island General Laws. 10
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet and 11
organize at the call of the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and shall select 12
co-chairpersons from among the legislators. 13
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. 14
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. 15
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, 16
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or 17
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. 18
The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide 19
suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further 20
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General 21
Assembly on or before January 7, 2026, and said commission shall expire on March 7, 2026. 22
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LC001534
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND EVALUATE THE
POTENTIAL NECESSITY FOR CHANGES IN THE GENERAL LAWS PERTAINING TO
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND RECREATIONAL CAN NABIS
***
This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special joint legislative commission 1
whose purpose it would be to evaluate and determine what changes, if any, are needed to be made 2
in Title 3 and Chapter 28.11 of Title 21 of the Rhode Island General Laws, and who would report 3
back to the General Assembly on or before January 7, 2026, and said commission would expire 4
on March 7, 2026. 5
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LC001534
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