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

Two companion bills, H7755 (introduced February 12, 2026) and S2726 (introduced February 27, 2026), would require persons seeking to purchase a firearm in Rhode Island, other than police and military personnel and the license holders the bills except, to complete and pass a basic firearm safety training course.

What the Bill Would Require

Under the proposed Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act, prospective firearm purchasers other than police, military personnel and the license holders the bill excepts would need to:

- Complete a basic firearm safety training course approved by the Attorney General
- Complete a course of at least eight hours that includes live fire training, then pass a standardized written test developed by the Attorney General's office
- Complete modules on safe storage, Rhode Island firearms laws, disengagement tactics, and suicide prevention
- Obtain a training certificate valid for 5 years

The Attorney General would maintain a list of approved courses and instructors.

How This Differs from Current Requirements

Rhode Island law requires a buyer of a pistol or revolver to present a pistol/revolver safety certificate issued by the Department of Environmental Management, which certifies completion of a basic pistol/revolver safety course administered by the department. The proposed law would go significantly further by mandating live-fire training, a broader curriculum, and a 5-year renewal cycle. This would make Rhode Island's training requirement among the most comprehensive in the country, comparable to Massachusetts's new Chapter 135 Basic Firearms Safety (BFS) course requirement.

Current Status

H7755 was scheduled for hearing and/or consideration by the House Judiciary Committee on April 8, 2026, and the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended that the companion S2726 be held for further study ^[2]. 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, the bills would need to be reintroduced in a future session.

What This Means

If enacted, the purchase process would change from: (1) obtain Blue Card, (2) apply to buy, to: (1) complete approved safety training course including live-fire, (2) obtain certificate, (3) apply to buy. The 5-year certificate validity means the training would need periodic renewal.