The bill amends the "Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act of 2015" to enhance data collection and analysis related to traffic stops and searches conducted by Rhode Island state and municipal police. Key provisions include the introduction of a new data collection form that requires detailed information on each traffic stop, including the date, time, general location, demographics of the driver (race, ethnicity, gender, and approximate age), reasons for the stop, whether a search was conducted, the scope of any search, the basis for the search (consent, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion), any contraband seized, whether a warning or citation was issued, whether an arrest was made, the approximate duration of the stop, and whether the vehicle is registered in Rhode Island or out of state.

Data collection is mandated to begin no later than January 1, 2026, with a requirement for law enforcement agencies to transmit traffic stop and search data to the Office of Highway Safety on a monthly basis. The bill emphasizes the need for adequate funding to implement its provisions and mandates annual studies to analyze the collected data, focusing on racial disparities in traffic enforcement.

Additionally, the bill establishes a twelve-member advisory committee to guide the Office of Highway Safety in the collection and analysis of traffic stop data, ensuring diverse stakeholder representation. Law enforcement agencies are required to conduct monthly reviews of their data to identify any racial disparities and must submit annual reports starting July 1, 2026, detailing compliance with the data collection requirements and actions taken to address any identified disparities.

The act aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and equitable treatment in traffic enforcement, with provisions allowing organizations to seek civil action against police departments that fail to comply with the data collection and reporting requirements. The act will take effect upon passage.