2026 -- H 7304

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LC003153

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Stewart, Alzate, Casimiro, Voas, Potter,
Dawson, Boylan, Furtado, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-46-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-46 entitled "Open

Meetings" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-46-5. Purposes for which meeting may be closed — Use of electronic

communications — Judicial proceedings — Disruptive conduct.

     (a) A public body may hold a meeting closed to the public pursuant to § 42-46-4 for one

or more of the following purposes:

     (1) Any discussions of the job performance, character, or physical or mental health of a

person or persons provided that the person or persons affected shall have been notified in advance

in writing and advised that they may require that the discussion be held at an open meeting.

     Failure to provide notification shall render any action taken against the person or persons

affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the public

body shall state for the record that any persons to be discussed have been so notified and this

statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

     (2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to

collective bargaining or litigation.

     (3) Discussion regarding the matter of security including, but not limited to, the deployment

of security personnel or devices.

     (4) Any investigative proceedings regarding allegations of misconduct, either civil or

criminal.

     (5) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for

public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public

information would be detrimental to the interest of the public.

     (6) Any discussions related to or concerning a prospective business or industry locating in

the state of Rhode Island when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the interest of

the public.

     (7) A matter related to the question of the investment of public funds where the premature

disclosure would adversely affect the public interest. Public funds shall include any investment

plan or matter related thereto, including, but not limited to, state lottery plans for new promotions.

     (8) Any executive sessions of a local school committee exclusively for the purposes:

     (i) Of conducting student disciplinary hearings; or

     (ii) Of reviewing other matters that relate to the privacy of students and their records,

including all hearings of the various juvenile hearing boards of any municipality; provided,

however, that any affected student shall have been notified in advance in writing and advised that

the student may require that the discussion be held in an open meeting.

     Failure to provide notification shall render any action taken against the student or students

affected null and void. Before going into a closed meeting pursuant to this subsection, the public

body shall state for the record that any students to be discussed have been so notified and this

statement shall be noted in the minutes of the meeting.

     (9) Any hearings on, or discussions of, a grievance filed pursuant to a collective bargaining

agreement.

     (10) Any discussion of the personal finances of a prospective donor to a library.

     (b) No meeting of members of a public body or use of electronic communication, including

telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be used to circumvent the spirit or

requirements of this chapter; provided, however, these meetings and discussions are not prohibited.

     (1) Provided, further however, that discussions of a public body via electronic

communication, including telephonic communication and telephone conferencing, shall be

permitted only to schedule a meeting, except as provided in this subsection.

     (2) Provided, further however, that a member of a public body may participate by use of

electronic communication or telephone communication while on active duty in the armed services

of the United States.

     (3) Provided, further however, that a member of that public body, who has a disability as

defined in chapter 87 of this title and:

     (i) Cannot attend meetings of that public body solely by reason of the member’s disability;

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and

     (ii) Cannot otherwise participate in the meeting without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as reasonable accommodation, may participate by use

of electronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the process below.

     (4) The governor’s commission on disabilities is authorized and directed to:

     (i) Establish rules and regulations for determining whether a member of a public body is

not otherwise able to participate in meetings of that public body without the use of electronic

communication or telephone communication as a reasonable accommodation due to that member’s

disability;

     (ii) Grant a waiver that allows a member to participate by electronic communication or

telephone communication only if the member’s disability would prevent the member from being

physically present at the meeting location, and the use of such communication is the only

reasonable accommodation; and

     (iii) Any waiver decisions shall be a matter of public record.

     (5) The university of Rhode Island board of trustees members, established pursuant to §

16-32-2, are authorized to participate remotely in open public meetings of the board; provided,

however, that:

     (i) The remote members and all persons present at the meeting location are clearly audible

and visible to each other;

     (ii) A quorum of the body is participating;

     (iii) If videoconferencing is used to conduct a meeting, the public notice for the meeting

shall inform the public that videoconferencing will be used and include instructions on how the

public can access the virtual meeting; and

     (iv) The board shall adopt rules defining the requirements of remote participation including

its use for executive session, and the conditions by which a member is authorized to participate

remotely.

     (6) The Rhode Island Life Science Hub board of directors, established pursuant to § 23-

99-4, is authorized to participate remotely in open public meetings of the board, in accordance with

the provisions of § 23-99-4(c).

     (7) Provided, further however, that any member of a public body that is pregnant or has

given birth within the past six (6) months, may participate by use of electronic communication or

telephone communication in accordance with the process set forth in this subsection.

     (8) Provided, further however, that any member of a public body that participates by use

of electronic communication or telephone communication in accordance with the process set forth

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in this subsection, may be permitted to vote by means of electronic communication or telephone

communication, provided that the meeting is held in person.

     (c) This chapter shall not apply to proceedings of the judicial branch of state government

or probate court or municipal court proceedings in any city or town.

     (d) This chapter shall not prohibit the removal of any person who willfully disrupts a

meeting to the extent that orderly conduct of the meeting is seriously compromised.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS

***

     This act would allow a pregnant member or a member that has given birth in the past six

(6) months to appear remotely to participate in a public body meeting. This act would further permit

any member that participates in a meeting remotely to also vote remotely at that meeting, provided

that the meeting is held in person.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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