Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2045: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT (Protects people attending Rhode Island court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant, ensures court access, sets enforcement rules, and provides remedies for violations.)
Status: Signed into law, June 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 9, 2026:
2026 -- S 2045 ======== LC003706 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT Introduced By: Senators Kallman, Euer, Bissaillon, Ciccone, Murray, Zurier, McKenney, Mack, Quezada, and Acosta Date Introduced: January 09, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT 12-34-1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protect Our Courts Act." 12-34-2. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings: (1) "Civil arrest" means an arrest that is not: (i) For the sole or primary purpose of preparing the person for criminal prosecution for an alleged violation of the criminal law of this state, another state, or the United States, for which a sentence of imprisonment is authorized by law and which requires an appearance before a judicial officer; or (ii) For contempt of the court in which the court proceeding is taking place or will take place. (2) "Court proceeding" means any appearance in a court of this state before a judge, justice, or magistrate ordered or scheduled by such judicial …
Sponsors
- Meghan Kallman (D, SD-015) · primary sponsor
- Dawn Euer (D, SD-013)
- Jacob Bissaillon (D, SD-001)
- Frank Ciccone (D, SD-007)
- Melissa Murray (D, SD-024)
- Samuel Zurier (D, SD-003)
- Mark McKenney (D, SD-030)
- Tiara Mack (D, SD-006)
- Ana Quezada (D, SD-002)
- Jonathon Acosta (D, SD-016)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Senate voted to reconsider
- : Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
Votes
- Senate Seq #618: (June 11, 2026): 32 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Senate Seq #617: (June 11, 2026): 33 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 2, 2026): 7 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (June 2, 2026): 7 yea, 2 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (May 5, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Common questions
- What is S2045?
- S2045 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT (Protects people attending Rhode Island court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant, ensures court access, sets enforcement rules, and provides remedies for violations.).
- What is the status of S2045?
- Signed into law as of June 22, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2045?
- Meghan Kallman (D, SD-015), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2045?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045Aaa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.