The proposed bill, SB 403, amends Title 21 of the General Laws by adding a new chapter, CHAPTER 13.1, which regulates force-fed poultry products, specifically addressing the practice of force-feeding birds such as ducks and geese to produce foie gras. The bill establishes definitions for key terms, including "force-fed poultry product," which refers to any product resulting from the force-feeding of a bird with the intent to fatten or enlarge its liver; "force-feeding," defined as the practice of forcing food or supplements into the throat, esophagus, crop, or stomach of an animal; and "sell," which encompasses any act of selling, trading, or bartering for consideration.

The bill explicitly prohibits individuals from engaging in force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or hiring another to do so. It also prohibits the sale of any force-fed poultry product or food containing a force-fed poultry product in Rhode Island. There is a rebuttable presumption that any item labeled or identified as "foie gras" is considered a force-fed poultry product unless proven otherwise.

Enforcement provisions are included, stating that any person found to violate the chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation, with each day of continued violation treated as a separate offense. Prosecution may be carried out by the city or town where the violation occurs or by the state department of health, which may retain fines after deducting trial costs. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.