2026 -- H 7977

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LC005594

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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 ELECTIONS -- BALLOT QUESTION ADVOCACY AND REPORTING

     Introduced By: Representative Brian C. Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 17-25.2 of the General Laws entitled "Ballot Question Advocacy and

Reporting" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     17-25.2-7.1. Disclaimers.

     (a) No ballot question advocate shall make or incur an expenditure for any written, typed,

or other printed communication, unless such communication bears upon its face the words "Paid

for by" and the name of the person, entity, the name of its chief executive officer or equivalent, and

its principal business address. In the case of a person, business entity or political action committee

making or incurring such an expenditure, which entity is a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c)

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than an organization described in § 501(c)(3) of such

Code) or an exempt nonprofit as defined in § 17-25-3, or any subsequent corresponding internal

revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, or an organization organized

under Section 527 of said code, such communication shall also bear upon its face the words "Top

Five Donors" followed by a list of the five (5) persons or entities making the largest aggregate

donations to such person, business entity or political action committee during the twelve (12) month

period before the date of such communication; provided that, no donor shall be listed who is not

required to be disclosed in a report to the board of elections by the person, business entity, or

political action committee.

     (b) The provisions of subsections (a) of this section shall not apply to:

     (1) Any editorial, news story, or commentary published in any newspaper, magazine or

journal on its own behalf and upon its own responsibility and for which it does not charge or receive

any compensation whatsoever;

     (2) Political paraphernalia including pins, buttons, badges, emblems, hats, bumper stickers

or other similar materials; or

     (3) Signs or banners with a surface area of not more than thirty-two square feet (32 ft2).

     (c) No person, business entity or political action committee shall make or incur an

expenditure for paid television advertising or paid Internet video advertising, unless at the end of

such advertising there appears simultaneously, for a period of not less than four (4) seconds:

     (1) A clearly identifiable video, photographic or similar image of the entity's chief

executive officer or equivalent; and

     (2) A personal audio message, in the following form: "I am (name of entity's chief

executive officer or equivalent), (title) of (entity), and I approved its content."

     (3) In the case of a person, business entity or political action committee making or incurring

such an expenditure, which person, business entity or political action committee is a tax-exempt

organization under § 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other than an organization

described in § 501(c)(3) of such Code) or an exempt nonprofit as defined in § 17-25-3, or any

subsequent corresponding internal revenue code if the United States, as amended from time to time,

or an organization organized under Section 527 of said code, such advertising shall also include a

written message in the following form: "The top five (5) donors to the organization responsible for

this advertisement are" followed by a list of the five (5) persons or entities making the largest

aggregate donations during the twelve (12) month period before the date of such advertisement;

provided that, no donor shall be listed who is not required to be disclosed in a report to the board

of elections by the person, business entity, or political action committee.

     (d) No person, business entity or political action committee shall make or incur an

expenditure for paid radio advertising or paid Internet audio advertising, unless the advertising ends

with a personal audio statement by the entity's chief executive officer or equivalent:

     (1) Identifying the entity paying for the expenditure; and

     (2) A personal audio message, in the following form: "I am (name of entity's chief

executive officer or equivalent), (title), of (entity), and I approved its content."

     (3) In the case of a person, business entity or political action committee making or incurring

such an expenditure, which entity is a tax-exempt organization under § 501(c) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986 (other than an organization described in § 501(c)(3) of such Code) or an

exempt nonprofit as defined in § 17-25-3, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code

of the United States, as amended from time to time, or an organization organized under Section 527

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of said code, such advertising shall also include:

     (i) An audio message in the following form: "The top five (5) donors to the organization

responsible for this advertisement are" followed by a list of the five (5) persons or entities making

the largest aggregate donations during the twelve (12) month period before the date of such

advertisement; provided that, no donor shall be listed who is not required to be disclosed in a report

to the board of elections by the person, business entity, or political action committee; or

     (ii) In the case of such an advertisement that is thirty (30) seconds in duration or shorter,

an audio message providing a website address that lists such five (5) persons or entities, provided

that no contributor shall be listed who is not required to be disclosed in a report to the board of

elections by the person, business entity, or political action committee. In such case, the person,

business entity or political action committee shall establish and maintain such a website with such

listing for the entire period during which such person, business entity or political action committee

makes such advertisement.

     (e) No person, business entity or political action committee shall make or incur an

expenditure for automated telephone calls, unless the narrative of the telephone call identifies the

person, business entity or political action committee making the expenditure and its chief executive

officer or equivalent. In the case of a person, business entity or political action committee making

or incurring such an independent expenditure, which entity is a tax-exempt organization under§

501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of I 986 (other than an organization described in § 501(c)(3)

of such Code) or an exempt nonprofit as defined in § 17-25-3, or any subsequent corresponding

internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, or an organization

organized under Section 527 of said code, such narrative shall also include an audio message in the

following form: "The top five (5) donors to the organization responsible for this telephone call are"

followed by a list of the five (5) persons or entities making the largest aggregate donations during

the twelve (12) month period before the date of such telephone call; provided that, no donor shall

be listed who is not required to be disclosed in a report to the board of elections by the person,

business entity, or political action committee.

     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 ELECTIONS -- BALLOT QUESTION ADVOCACY AND REPORTING

***

     This act would impose strict identity disclosure requirements for those who incur

expenditures for the production of ballot advocacy communications and political advertisements.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005594

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