H7755 / S2726 (2026): Mandatory Firearm Safety Training (Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act)

House Bill 7755 (Reps. Boylan, Tanzi, Dawson, and others) and Senate Bill 2726 (Sens. McKenney, Bissaillon, Britto, and others), titled the "Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act", would require safety training before firearm purchase or possession in Rhode Island^[1].

What the Bills Would Require

All applicants would need to complete a basic firearm safety training course before purchasing or possessing a firearm. Under the bills, the following persons would be exempt:

• Active-duty law enforcement officers
• Active-duty military personnel, members of the active reserve components, and Rhode Island National Guard members in an active duty paid status
• Individuals who already hold a concealed carry permit (which requires training)
• Persons licensed under sections 11-47-9 and 11-47-11

Both H7755 and S2726 expand the purchase process framework from pistols and revolvers to all firearms, defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver. It would also repeal the separate sections governing rifle and shotgun sales, creating a unified process for all firearm types.

Relationship to Existing Requirements

Rhode Island already requires a DEM Handgun Safety Course for handgun purchases. These bills would extend training requirements to long guns (rifles and shotguns), which currently have no training prerequisite. The bills would require all persons seeking to possess a firearm, except police and military personnel, to complete and pass a basic firearm safety training course.

Current Status

H7755 was scheduled for hearing and/or consideration by the House Judiciary Committee on April 8, 2026, and S2726 was scheduled for hearing and/or consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 14, 2026. Both bills were held for further study. Neither bill passed before the House and Senate recessed on June 11, 2026, and neither chamber had met again as of October 15, 2026. Unless the General Assembly reconvenes before its term ends, both would need to be reintroduced in a future session^[2].