Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7576: 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 -- H 7576 ======== LC004897 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Potter, Serpa, Cortvriend, McGaw, Boylan, Caldwell, Cotter, Spears, and Carson Date Introduced: February 06, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections 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. ======== LC004897 ======== 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 …
Sponsors
- Rebecca Kislak (D, HD-004) · primary sponsor
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027)
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072)
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- Jennifer Boylan (D, HD-066)
- Justine Caldwell (D, HD-030)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Lauren Carson (D, HD-075)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
Votes
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage in concurrence (June 9, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #242: PASSAGE (June 3, 2026): 69 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage (May 28, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC RECORDS
Common questions
- What is H7576?
- H7576 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 H7576?
- Signed into law as of June 19, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7576?
- Rebecca Kislak (D, HD-004), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7576?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7576.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.