S2156 (2026): Carjacking Self-Defense Presumption

What the Bill Would Do

S2156 would establish a rebuttable defense in Rhode Island law for situations where a person dies or sustains personal injury while committing robbery of a motor vehicle, and the vehicle's owner, lessor, or occupant acted in self-defense. This would provide a legal presumption in favor of the vehicle occupant who used defensive force during a carjacking.

Sponsors

The bill was introduced by Senators Rogers, de la Cruz, Morgan, and Raptakis.

Current Status

Introduced on January 16, 2026 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which scheduled a hearing for May 12, 2026 and on that date recommended that the measure be held for further study. The bill did not pass 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, it would need to be reintroduced in a future session.

Context

Rhode Island already recognizes a castle-doctrine presumption under RIGL 11-8-8. When someone dies or is injured while committing one of the offenses listed in RIGL 11-8-2 through 11-8-6, such as breaking and entering, the owner, tenant, or occupier is rebuttably presumed to have acted by reasonable means in self-defense in the reasonable belief that the intruder was about to inflict great bodily harm or death, and there is no duty to retreat. S2156 would extend a similar concept to motor vehicle robberies. The bill arrives amid rising carjacking rates in several Rhode Island cities and reflects a national trend of states expanding self-defense protections beyond the home.