S2155 (2026): Permitless Concealed Carry (Constitutional Carry)

Update: Held for Further Study (April 2026)

On April 14, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended that the bill be held for further study, and it did not advance. The bill has not passed. No further action is recorded.^[99]

Senate Bill 2155, sponsored by Senators Rogers, Paolino, de la Cruz, Morgan and Raptakis, would permit Rhode Island residents age 21 and older to carry concealed handguns without obtaining a license or permit from a city or town licensing authority or the Attorney General, subject to the bill's conditions^[1].

What the Bill Would Change

Under current law, Rhode Island requires either a Local Concealed Carry Weapons (LCCW) permit from a city or town licensing authority under RIGL 11-47-11 or a permit through the Attorney General under RIGL 11-47-18 to carry a pistol or revolver, visible or concealed, outside the person's dwelling house, place of business or land the person possesses, except as provided in RIGL 11-47-9 and 11-47-10. S2155 would create a third pathway: permitless carry for qualifying residents. The bill leaves the existing license and permit sections in place and adds a no-permit exception for residents who meet the following conditions:

• Age 21 or older
• Lawful Rhode Island resident
• Not otherwise prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm
• Has a certificate of qualification issued in accordance with RIGL 11-47-15 that is not more than four years old
• Has a pistol/revolver safety certificate or hunter safety certificate issued and/or recognized by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
• Has in their possession a valid photo identification issued by a state or governmental agency and presents it immediately upon demand by a law enforcement officer

Current Status

S2155 was scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on April 14, 2026, and on that date the committee recommended that the bill be held for further study. The bill did not pass before the House and Senate recessed on June 11, 2026. Neither chamber's published journal index lists a later meeting as of October 20, 2026. Had it passed, Rhode Island residents 21 and older could have carried a concealed handgun without a permit, subject to the bill's conditions.

Political Context

The bill was held for further study by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 14, 2026. The Governor signed the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025, S 359, Chapter 281, on June 26, 2025. The bill has five Senate sponsors.

What to Watch

Firearms owners who support this legislation should monitor committee schedules and be prepared to provide testimony.