Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Wesley Bell and 27 co-sponsors

Rhode IslandDesignates September as Substance Use Recovery Awareness Month and promotes non-stigmatizing, person-first language across state agencies and communications.

Introduced in House

Overview

Bill Type: House Resolution (non-binding)

Bill Number: HR 6356

Title: Recognizing September as Substance Use Recovery Awareness Month in Rhode Island and Calling for the End of Stigma and Empowering Recovery Through Language in Rhode Island

Introduced: May 22, 2025

Status (as of 05/22/2025): House read and passed

Primary Focus: Public recognition of substance use recovery awareness and promotion of non-stigmatizing, person-first language in state practices and communications

Purpose and Intent

Acknowledge substance use disorders (SUDs) as a public health issue affecting Rhode Islanders and their families.

Address stigma and discrimination as barriers to seeking treatment and recovery support.

Promote language that respects the dignity of people with SUDs and supports recovery outcomes.

Encourage collaboration among state agencies, health professionals, educators, employers, media, and community organizations to reduce stigma.

Key Provisions

Recognition of September as Substance Use Recovery Awareness Month: Rhode Island designates September for awareness activities and education.

End of Stigma Through Language: Urges adoption of person-first, non-stigmatizing language in practices, communications, and policies across state entities and stakeholders. Examples include replacing terms like “addict,” “abuser,” and “clean” with phrases such as “person with a substance use disorder” and “in recovery.”

Support for Educational Campaigns: Promotes statewide campaigns to highlight how stigma creates barriers to treatment and recovery, emphasizing inclusive language and evidence-based approaches to SUDs.

Recovery Day Event: Encourages participation in the annual Recovery Day Event at the Rhode Island State House, with a noted date for 2025 (May 29, 2025).

Authorized Transmission: Directs the Secretary of State to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor (Daniel J. McKee), the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH).

Affected Parties and Scope

Directly Affected: Rhode Island residents with SUDs and their families; state agencies (including health and BHDDH), healthcare providers, educators, employers, media outlets, and community organizations.

Indirect Effects: Potential changes in communications, public-facing materials, and policy guidance to reflect non-stigmatizing language; potential alignment with broader stigma-reduction initiatives led by the statewide recovery advocacy workgroup.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: May 22, 2025

Action Taken: House read and passed on May 22, 2025

Next Steps: As a resolution, it serves as an expression of the Legislature’s stance and guidance for state entities; passage by the Senate and signature by the Governor would finalize the resolution (not provided in the current summary).

Significance

The resolution is non-binding but signaling: it formalizes Rhode Island’s commitment to reducing stigma surrounding SUDs and to using respectful, person-first language in public institutions and communications.

It aligns with national and international health guidance from organizations such as the AMA and WHO on language and stigma reduction.

It seeks to mobilize awareness, education, and community engagement around recovery and mental health wellness.

If you’d like, I can adapt this summary for a policy brief, a public-facing explainer, or a legislative tracking sheet.

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