Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2480: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS (Makes traffic accident data a public record, subject to federal law.)
Status: Signed into law, June 19, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 6, 2026:
2026 -- S 2480 ======== LC004452 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS Introduced By: Senators Kallman, DiPalma, Thompson, Raptakis, Murray, Mack, Lauria, Urso, Dimitri, and Appollonio Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 38-2 of the General Laws entitled "Access to Public Records" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 38-2-17. Traffic accidents and improvement data. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or state law, any records that, under 23 U.S.C. § 407, are not discoverable or admissible in court proceedings or allowed to be considered for other purposes in damage actions shall nonetheless be deemed public records; provided, however, the records may not be used for purposes prohibited by that federal statute. When making the record public, whether in response to a request pursuant to this chapter, or otherwise, a public body may provide written notice of the aforementioned restrictions on their use. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004452 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF ANACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS *** This act would make traffic accident data a public record, subject to federal law. This act …
Sponsors
- Meghan Kallman (D, SD-015) · primary sponsor
- DiPalma, Louis (D, SD-012)
- Brian Thompson (D, SD-020)
- Leonidas Raptakis (D, SD-033)
- Melissa Murray (D, SD-024)
- Tiara Mack (D, SD-006)
- Pamela Lauria (D, SD-032)
- Lori Urso (D, SD-008)
- Andrew Dimitri (D, SD-025)
- Peter Appollonio (D, SD-029)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : House passed in concurrence
- : Placed on the House Consent Calendar
- : Senate read and passed
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
Votes
- House Seq #519: PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE (June 11, 2026): 67 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Seq #593: (June 10, 2026): 33 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (June 9, 2026): 6 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (May 21, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC RECORDS
Common questions
- What is S2480?
- S2480 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS (Makes traffic accident data a public record, subject to federal law.).
- What is the status of S2480?
- Signed into law as of June 19, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2480?
- Meghan Kallman (D, SD-015), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2480?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2480.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.