H7137 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LOBBYING REFORM ACT (Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Lombardi, Hull, Cruz, Stewart
Last action: 2026-03-31
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LOBBYING REFORM ACT (Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LOBBYING REFORM ACT (Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-31 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-03-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/31/2026)
2026-01-15 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LOBBYING REFORM ACT (Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7137

2026 -- H 7137
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LC003766
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND
LOBBYING REFORM ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Cruz, and Stewart

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 42-139.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Lobbying
2
Reform Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

42-139.1-14. Prohibited contributions by lobbyists.

4

No lobbyist, governed by this chapter, shall make any political contributions to any
5
member of the general assembly in any year during the period from January 1 through July 1, unless
6
the general assembly has adjourned its business for the year prior to July 1 of the session year.
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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 -- THE RHODE ISLAND
LOBBYING REFORM ACT
***
1
This act would prohibit lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member
2
of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly
3
adjourns for the year prior to July 1.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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