April 2, 2026
On March 31, Rhode Island’s State Senate voted to pass legislation that would increase fines for arrested sex buyers and use most of that revenue to support sex trade survivors. Senate Bill 2145 would also require sex buyers to complete an education program designed to deter this behavior by teaching them about the wide range of risks they take and harms they cause by financing sex trafficking and prostitution. The program would be free to taxpayers, funded entirely by fines imposed on arrested buyers. This program model also has strong evidence of effectiveness in deterring sex buyers from re-offending.
The bill was referred to the Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee. We will alert you about scheduled hearings or other developments. In the meantime, we urge you to contact the House co-sponsors of their version of S2145 and the other members of the House Judiciary Committee to support this bill. If you know residents of Rhode Island, it would be particularly helpful to have them contact their state Representatives and Senators.
At a hearing at the State House in Providence on March 26, representatives of Street Grace and ally organizations (the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Rights for Girls, World Without Exploitation, My Life My Choice) appeared in person and testified in favor of this bill alongside sex trade survivors and other residents of Rhode Island. In our testimony, we focused on research and historical precedent showing that demand reduction is the most crucial element in successful approaches to combat sex trafficking and prostitution. There have been approximately 100 sex buyer education programs in the U.S., all supported by offender fees, and the majority generating revenue for victims services. We also pointed out that there is precedent for S2145: Texas passed similar legislation in 2011 (HB1994). In addition, the Attorney General’s Office of Ohio has taken a strong stand against sex trafficking and prostitution, supporting sting operations to arrest sex buyers and establishing a state-wide grant program and guidelines to encourage buyer education programs. Free and effective is very hard to come by, and if the goal is to respond to communities who want prostitution and sex trafficking to stop, there is no good reason oppose S2145.
Please join us in voicing your support for S2145.
Bill Co-Sponsors
Rep. Justine CaldwellD - District 30 East Greenwich, West Greenwich(401) 222-4263rep-caldwell@rilegislature.govState House, Room 205, 82 Smith Street Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Julie CasimiroD - District 31 North Kingstown, Exeter(401) 222-4263rep-casimiro@rilegislature.govState House, Room 205, 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Robert CravenD - District 32North Kingstown(401) 222-2258rep-craven@rilegislature.govState House, Room 205, 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Leonela FelixD - District 61 Pawtucket(401) 222-2447rep-felix@rilegislature.govState House, Room 323, 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Carol Hagan McEnteeD - District 33Narragansett, South Kingstown(401) 222-4435rep-mcentee@rilegislature.govState House, Room 205, 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rep. William O’BrienD - District 54North Providence(401) 222-1882rep-obrien@rilegislature.govState House, Room 136 82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Rep. Tina SpearsD - District 36 Charlestown, South Kingstown, New Shoreham, Westerly(401) 222-1162rep-spears@rilegislature.govState House, Room 07A,82 Smith Street,Providence, RI 02903
House Judiciary Committee Members
Representative Carol Hagan, Chairrep-mcentee@rilegislature.gov
Representative Jason Knight, First Vice Chairrep-knight@rilegislature.gov
Representative Matthew Dawson, Second Vice Chairrep-dawson@rilegislature.gov
Representative Edith H. Ajellorep-ajello@rilegislature.gov
Representative José F. Batistarep-batista@rilegislature.gov
Representative David A. Bennettrep-bennett@rilegislature.gov
Representative Arthur J. Corveserep-corvese@rilegislature.gov
Representative Cherie L. Cruzrep-cruz@rilegislature.gov
Representative Marie A. Hopkinsrep-hopkins@rilegislature.gov
Representative Thomas E. Noret rep-noret@rilegislature.gov
Representative David J. Placerep-place@rilegislature.gov
