---
type: "Bill"
title: "AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Sunsets the provision which allows first-time violators to avoid the fine by presenting proof of acquisition of a hands-free device prior to the imposition of the fine effective September 1, 2022.)"
description: "AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Sunsets the provision which allows first-time violators to avoid the fine by presenting proof of acquisition of a hands-free device prior to the imposition of the fine effective September 1, 2022.)"
jurisdiction: "us/states/ri"
legislature: "Rhode Island General Assembly"
session: "2022"
identifier: "HB 7709"
citation: "Rhode Island HB 7709 (2022)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Craven", "Shanley"]
version_count: 1
action_count: 15
vote_count: 1
first_action: "2022-03-02"
last_action: "2022-06-27"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/04f8c0f5-fba4-4432-be21-d77fbb26d5aa"
source_url: "https://status.rilegislature.gov/"
source_hash: "61442a77587f7f01fc61daf976061700bcba3e32ab02651966eb6824db4d0d54"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-ri"]
---

# Rhode Island HB 7709 (2022) — AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES (Sunsets the provision which allows first-time violators to avoid the fine by presenting proof of acquisition of a hands-free device prior to the imposition of the fine effective September 1, 2022.)

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **7709 SUB A** (committee substitute) — [source](http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText22/HouseText22/H7709A.pdf)

## Votes

- PASSAGE — **53–8** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Craven — primary (person)
- Shanley — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2022-03-02** 03/02/2022 Introduced, referred to House Judiciary `introduction, referral-committee`
- **2022-04-01** 04/01/2022 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/05/2022)
- **2022-04-05** 04/05/2022 Committee recommended measure be held for further study `committee-failure`
- **2022-05-06** 05/06/2022 Scheduled for consideration (05/12/2022)
- **2022-05-06** 05/06/2022 Proposed Substitute `substitution`
- **2022-05-12** 05/12/2022 Committee recommends passage of Sub A `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2022-05-13** 05/13/2022 Placed on House Calendar (05/19/2022) `reading-3`
- **2022-05-19** 05/19/2022 House passed Sub A `passage`
- **2022-05-20** 05/20/2022 Referred to Senate Judiciary `referral-committee`
- **2022-05-27** 05/27/2022 Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2022)
- **2022-06-02** 06/02/2022 Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2022-06-16** 06/16/2022 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/21/2022) `reading-3`
- **2022-06-21** 06/21/2022 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence `passage`
- **2022-06-21** 06/21/2022 Transmitted to Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2022-06-27** 06/27/2022 Signed by Governor `executive-signature`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/04f8c0f5-fba4-4432-be21-d77fbb26d5aa`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Rhode Island legislature records).