The bill amends the "Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act of 2015" to enhance data collection and analysis related to traffic stops and searches by Rhode Island state and municipal police. It introduces 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. The timeline for data collection is extended to begin no later than January 1, 2026, with a mandate for monthly data transmission to the Office of Highway Safety.

The bill also emphasizes the need for funding to support these initiatives and requires annual studies to analyze the collected data for racial disparities. The Office of Highway Safety, with input from the Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act (CCPRA) advisory committee, will select an organization or entity to conduct the annual study, which will examine whether racial disparities in traffic stops and searches exist.

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. This committee will include representatives from various sectors, including law enforcement, civil rights organizations, and community members, and will meet at least quarterly to discuss findings and recommend policies.

Law enforcement agencies are required to conduct monthly reviews of their data to identify racial disparities, and starting July 1, 2026, agency heads must submit annual reports detailing their findings and actions taken to address any identified disparities. The bill aims to improve transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices while providing organizations combating discrimination the ability to seek legal relief for non-compliance with data collection requirements.