R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-7-1: License required.

No person, firm or corporation, wherever located, who, in the judgment of the director of environmental management, is primarily engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging livestock within the state shall engage in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging livestock within the state, except for slaughter within seventy-two (72) hours, without first obtaining a license from the director of environmental management.