Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7786: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL STATE OFFICERS -- NON-PARTISAN ELECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE (Proposes an amendment to
Status: Failed, April 30, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL STATE OFFICERS -- NON-PARTISAN ELECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE (Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, that would allow a non-partisan election of the secretary of state, commencing with the 2030 election.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 12, 2026:
2026 -- H 7786 ======== LC003599 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL STATE OFFICERS -- NON-PARTISAN ELECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE Introduced By: Representatives Newberry, Chippendale, Nardone, and Place Date Introduced: February 12, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 17-2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-2 entitled "General State Officers" is hereby amended to read as follows: 17-2-1. General officers enumerated -- Election and terms. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and general treasurer shall be known as general officers. They shall be elected at a general election, quadrennially, in accordance with the provisions of this title, and shall hold their respective offices for four (4) years beginning on the first Tuesday of January next succeeding their election and until the election and qualification of their respective successors. Commencing with the election to be held in 2030, the secretary of state shall be elected in a non-partisan election, without any party label, and is not to be nominated or elected as an official representative of a political party. SECTION 2. Section 17-12-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-12 entitled "Party Committees and Conventions" is hereby amended to read as follows: 17-12-13. …
Sponsors
- Brian Newberry (R, HD-048) · primary sponsor
- Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
- George Nardone (R)
- David Place (R, HD-047)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Committee postponed at request of sponsor
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
Subjects: ELECTIONS
Common questions
- What is H7786?
- H7786 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL STATE OFFICERS -- NON-PARTISAN ELECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE (Proposes an amendment to .
- What does H7786 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL STATE OFFICERS -- NON-PARTISAN ELECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE (Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, that would allow a non-partisan election of the secretary of state, commencing with the 2030 election.)
- What is the status of H7786?
- Failed as of April 30, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7786?
- Brian Newberry (R, HD-048), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7786?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7786.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.