H8075 (2026): $1 Million Firearm Liability Insurance Mandate

Update: Held for Further Study (April 2026)

At hearings held April 8-14, 2026, the Rhode Island House and Senate Judiciary committees voted to hold this bill for further study — a procedural outcome that keeps the bill alive on the docket but defers any committee vote and halts advancement for this session. The bill has not passed. No further action is expected before the regular session ends in June 2026.^[99]

House Bill 8075, sponsored by Representatives Caldwell, Potter, Boylan, Knight, Carson, and others, would require every firearm owner in Rhode Island to maintain $1,000,000 in liability insurance^[1].

What the Bill Would Require

Every person who owns a firearm in Rhode Island would be required to carry a liability insurance policy of at least $1 million. The only exemptions are for active-duty law enforcement officers and active-duty military personnel. The bill does not specify penalties for non-compliance, the mechanism for enforcement, or whether standard homeowner's insurance policies would satisfy the requirement.

Practical Concerns

Several practical questions remain unanswered by the bill text:

• Most standard liability insurance policies exclude intentional criminal acts — the very scenarios proponents cite as the reason for the mandate
• Specialized firearm liability policies at the $1M level would likely cost $500–$1,500+ annually per owner
• Enforcement would require a registry of firearm owners cross-referenced against insurance carriers
• The bill could effectively price lower-income residents out of firearm ownership

Legal Challenges

Similar insurance mandates proposed in other states have faced constitutional challenges on Second Amendment grounds. Critics argue that imposing a financial prerequisite on the exercise of a constitutional right is equivalent to a poll tax. No state has successfully enacted and defended a mandatory firearm liability insurance law at this level.

Current Status

H8075 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on February 27, 2026. No hearing date has been scheduled^[2].