AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT (Provides that testimony submitted on behalf of state departments, agencies, boards or commissions would not be considered official unless authorized by the governor.)

H7155

2026 -- H 7155
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LC003584
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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 -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE
GOVERNMENT

Introduced By:
Representatives Place, and Hopkins

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42-6 of the General Laws entitled "Departments of State
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Government" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-6-16. Executive branch testimony to the general assembly; certification required.

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(a) Definitions. As used in this section:
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(1) “Executive agency” means any department, agency, board, commission, office, or
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authority within the executive branch of state government, including any subdivision thereof.
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(2) “Testimony” means any oral or written statement, presentation, data submission, report,
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or other informational material provided to the general assembly or any committee, commission,
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or member thereof, in connection with legislative proceedings or oversight.
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(3) “Official executive branch testimony” means testimony that has been authorized and
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certified in accordance with this section.
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(b) Certification required. No testimony shall be deemed official executive branch
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testimony unless it is accompanied by a written certification executed by:
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(1) The head of the executive agency providing the testimony; and
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(2) The governor or the governor’s designee.
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(c) Contents of certification. The certification required by subsection (b) of this section
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shall state that:
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(1) The testimony has been reviewed and authorized for submission on behalf of the

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executive branch;
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(2) The factual statements and data contained therein are, to the best of the certifying
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officials’ knowledge and belief after reasonable inquiry, accurate and complete as of the time
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provided; and
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(3) The testimony does not knowingly omit material facts necessary to prevent the
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information presented from being misleading.
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(d) Scope. The certification required by this section shall apply only to factual
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representations and data and shall not be construed to require certification of policy judgments,
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opinions, recommendations, or projections.
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(e) Form and filing of certification. The certification shall be submitted in writing and shall
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be maintained as part of the official legislative record for the proceeding to which the testimony
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relates.
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(f) Effect of noncompliance. Testimony not certified in accordance with this section shall
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not be considered official executive branch testimony and shall not be relied upon by the general
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assembly or any committee thereof for legislative findings, fiscal analyses, or oversight
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determinations.
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(g) Rules and regulations. The department of administration, in consultation with the office
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of the governor, may promulgate rules and standardized certification forms to implement this
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section.
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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 -- DEPARTMENTS OF STATE
GOVERNMENT
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This act would provide that testimony submitted on behalf of state departments, agencies,
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boards or commissions would not be considered official unless authorized by the governor.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003584
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