H8073 / S2710 (2026): Proposed Possession Restriction

On February 27, 2026, House Bill 8073 was introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, with a Senate companion (S2710, Sens. Mack, Lauria, Valverde, and others) referred to Senate Judiciary the same day^[1]. The bills would amend P.L. 2025, ch. 281 to restrict not only the sale and transfer but also the continued possession of firearms classified as assault weapons under the existing ban.

What the Bill Would Change

The current law, P.L. 2025, ch. 281, prohibits manufacturing, selling, offering to sell, transferring or purchasing a prohibited firearm and does not prohibit possessing one. H8073 would add possession to the prohibited acts. If enacted, a person who lawfully possessed a prohibited firearm before July 1, 2026 could sell, offer to sell or transfer it to a federally licensed firearm dealer or to an individual outside the state who may lawfully possess it, by December 31, 2026. The bill would take effect upon passage, and the December 31, 2026 date is the deadline for the sale or transfer exception.

Current Status

The House and Senate recessed on June 11, 2026, and neither chamber had met again as of October 15, 2026. Neither H8073 nor S2710 passed, and chapter 11-47.2 as enacted still does not prohibit possession. Unless the General Assembly reconvenes before its term ends, the bills would need to be reintroduced in a future session. The 2025 act leaves possession outside its prohibitions, and H8073 would bring possession inside them. The Legislative Council's explanation of the bill says that it would restrict the possession of prohibited firearms^[2].

Constitutional Questions

A possession prohibition would reach firearms already lawfully owned, which the 2025 act does not do. Opponents argue that requiring the surrender or destruction of lawfully acquired property without compensation constitutes an unconstitutional taking under the Fifth Amendment. The bill does not include a compensation or buyback program. Any legal challenge would likely raise both Second Amendment and Takings Clause arguments.

Update: Hearing Held April 8, 2026 -- Held for Further Study

On April 8, 2026, the House Judiciary Committee recommended that H8073 be held for further study. The bill had been scheduled for hearing and/or consideration that day. The companion Senate bill S2710 was scheduled for hearing and/or consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 14, 2026, and the committee recommended that it be held for further study that day. Neither bill is advancing at this time.

Representative Tanzi is the first-named sponsor of H8073, which was introduced on February 27, 2026, referred to the House Judiciary Committee, and held for further study on April 8, 2026.

Compliance Timeline (If Enacted)

If H8073 passes, a person who lawfully possessed a prohibited firearm before July 1, 2026 would have until December 31, 2026 to:

- Sell the firearm to a federally licensed firearm dealer
- Transfer the firearm to an individual outside the state who may lawfully possess it

A person convicted of violating the prohibition would be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten years, or by a fine of up to $10,000, and the prohibited firearm would be subject to forfeiture.

What to Watch

The House Judiciary Committee held H8073 for further study on April 8, 2026, and the Senate Judiciary Committee held S2710 for further study on April 14, 2026. Neither bill had further action before the House and Senate recessed on June 11, 2026, and neither chamber had met again as of October 15, 2026. RIGL 11-47.2-2 as enacted does not prohibit possessing a prohibited firearm.