Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7676: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Allows advisory bodies to participate in a public meeting usin
Status: In committee, June 5, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Allows advisory bodies to participate in a public meeting using videoconferencing, subject to certain requirements.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 11, 2026:
2026 -- H 7676 ======== LC004865 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Tanzi, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, Cortvriend, Carson, Spears, and Cotter Date Introduced: February 11, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 42-46-2, 42-46-5, 42-46-6, 42-46-7 and 42-46-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open Meetings" are hereby amended to read as follows: 42-46-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) Advisory body" means any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority, or any subdivision thereof, of state or municipal government, or other like body that does not have decision-making authority and whose primary purpose is to consider an issue or issues designated by the appointing entity so as to provide such authority with advice or recommendations concerning the formulation of any public policy or legislation or other matter assigned to the advisory body. (1)(2) "Meeting" means the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. As used herein, the term "meeting" expressly includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, socalled "workshop," "working," or "work" sessions. (2)(3) "Open …
Sponsors
- June Speakman (D, HD-068) · primary sponsor
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- Edith Ajello (D, HD-001)
- Ann Shallcross Smith, Mary (D, HD-046)
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072)
- Lauren Carson (D, HD-075)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
Votes
- House Seq #159: PASSAGE (May 5, 2026): 59 yea, 12 nay, passed
- House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage (April 30, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT
Common questions
- What is H7676?
- H7676 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Allows advisory bodies to participate in a public meeting usin.
- What does H7676 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Allows advisory bodies to participate in a public meeting using videoconferencing, subject to certain requirements.)
- What is the status of H7676?
- In committee as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Judiciary (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7676?
- June Speakman (D, HD-068), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7676?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7676.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.