October 2, 2026
State House – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Pamela J. Lauria to protect healthcare providers who prescribe medications to terminate pregnancies.
The legislation (2026-S 2033A) would allow the name of the dispensing practice, rather than the name of the prescribing practitioner, to be used on the prescription label for abortion medications, at the prescriber’s request.
The bill is aimed at protecting Rhode Island health care providers at a time when other states have rolled back reproductive healthcare rights and have engaged in efforts to target providers in other states.
“Following the Dobbs decision, some states have not only restricted their own citizens’ rights to healthcare, they have not stopped at their own borders in attacking reproductive freedom,” said Senator Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence). “This bill is important to protect providers here in Rhode Island who are offering care that is legal, safe and critical.”
Healthcare providers and agencies that testified in support of the bill say it would also help protect providers’ personal safety in today’s hostile environment toward reproductive care.
The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) is sponsoring its House companion (2026-H 7185).
Similar legislation has been enacted in New York, Maine, Vermont, Washington and Colorado.
The legislation is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union Rhode Island, The Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, the Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association and the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island.
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