Rhode Island S2136: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES (Requires party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president within 30 days of notice of vacancy in a municipal election office and mayor/council president are required to make a replacement nomination within 30 days.)

What the bill says

From the introduced text, January 16, 2026:

2026 -- S 2136 ======== LC004180 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, LaMountain, Gallo, and Dimitri Date Introduced: January 16, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 17-8-1, 17-8-2 and 17-8-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-8 entitled "Local Canvassing Authorities" are hereby amended to read as follows: 17-8-1. Appointment of bipartisan authority. (a) The legislative body of each city and town shall appoint a bipartisan canvassing authority of three (3) qualified electors of the city or town, not more than two (2) of whom shall belong to the same political party, and may appoint two (2) alternate members, not more than one of whom shall belong to the same political party. At any meeting of the canvassing authority at which a member is to be absent, the member may request that an alternate replace him or her for that meeting; provided, that the alternate member must be of the same political party as the member. The mayor, in cities and towns that elect a mayor, or the president of the city or town council, in cities and towns with no elected mayor, shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt of lists, nominate …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Jacob Bissaillon (D, SD-001) · primary sponsor
• Matthew LaMountain (D, SD-031)
• Hanna Gallo (D, SD-027)
• Andrew Dimitri (D, SD-025)

Latest actions

1. June 23, 2026: Signed by Governor
2. June 18, 2026: Transmitted to Governor
3. June 11, 2026: House passed Sub A in concurrence
4. June 11, 2026: Placed on House Calendar
5. June 10, 2026: Senate passed Sub A
6. June 9, 2026: Placed on Senate Calendar
7. June 9, 2026: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
8. June 8, 2026: Proposed Substitute
9. June 5, 2026: Scheduled for consideration
10. February 26, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Votes

• House Seq #583: PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE (June 11, 2026): 69 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Seq #592: (June 10, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 9, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (June 9, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (February 26, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is S2136?

S2136 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES (Requires party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president within 30 days of notice of vacancy in a municipal election office and mayor/council president are required to make a replacement nomination within 30 days.).

What is the status of S2136?

Signed into law as of June 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 23, 2026).

Who sponsored S2136?

Jacob Bissaillon (D, SD-001), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for S2136?

On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136A.pdf