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5/18/2026
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Media Advisory: Senate Health, Human Services Committee to vote on several bills, hold hearings on bills from AG’s health package
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will meet tomorrow for votes on six bills concerning pharmacy benefits managers, crisis stabilization services and the 988 behavioral health link, among other topics. The committee meets again on Thursday to hold hearings on numerous bills, including three from the attorney general’s health care package.
The committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19, at the rise of the Senate session (sometime after 4:30 p.m.) in Room 212 on the second floor of the State House for votes on the several bills, including:
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2026-S 3059 — Sponsored by Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket), this bill imposes certain duties, transparency and accountability for pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacy benefits management services.
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2026-S 3058 — This bill sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) would establish permanent funding for the 988 hotline for suicide prevention/behavioral health crisis management.
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2026-S 3066 — This bill sponsored by Senate President Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) establishes a statewide mobile response and stabilization services program to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth in their natural environments.
The committee meets again Thursday, May 21, at the rise of the Senate in the Senate Lounge on the second floor of the State House for hearings on several bills, including three included in Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s health care package:
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2026-S 3257 — This bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) would establish a state-run prescription drug purchasing pool available for participation by nonstate public employers, private employers and health insurance carriers to maximize the value of drug discounts available to participants.
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2026-S 3258 — Sponsored by Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), this bill would strengthen enforcement of the state’s pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.
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2026-S 3260 — This bill sponsored by Senator Britto would expressly define a detailed set of PBM practices as unfair or deceptive acts enforceable by the attorney general.
Both meetings will be televised by Capitol Television on Cox channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) channel 15; and Verizon channel 34. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox Subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.
Written testimony about the bills scheduled for hearings on Thursday may be emailed to SLegislation@rilegislature.gov and must be submitted prior to 3 p.m. Thursday in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records. It will be considered a public record.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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