S2306 (2026): Legalize Suppressors for Hunting

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. There was no further action before the House and Senate recessed on June 11, 2026, and neither chamber had met again as of October 15, 2026.^[99]

Senate Bill 2306, sponsored by Senators Rogers, Morgan, de la Cruz, Paolino, Dimitri, and Raptakis, would permit the possession or use of a suppressor on any firearm longer than 17 inches, and its use by a person while hunting with a valid hunting license^[1].

What the Bill Would Change

Suppressors are currently illegal in Rhode Island. Under federal law, a silencer is a firearm under the National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. 5845(a)(7). S2306 would permit suppressor use in Rhode Island with these limits:

• Only on firearms with an overall length exceeding 17 inches
• Use while hunting is allowed for any game the individual is licensed to hunt
• The bill would bar any city, town or other state or local agency from enacting rules that require or mandate the use of a suppressor

Context

Proponents argue suppressors protect hearing for hunters and reduce noise disturbance. A suppressor reduces the sound of a shot and does not make a firearm silent. The American Suppressor Association has advocated for legalization across remaining restricted states.

Current Status

S2306 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2026, and held for further study that day. The bill had no further action 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 bill would need to be reintroduced in a future session^[2].