S2147 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS (Requires that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday when Labor Day is the day before said Tuesday. No other filing deadlines would be affected.)

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Burke, LaMountain
Last action: 2026-04-20
Official status: Signed by Governor
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 ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS (Requires that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday when Labor Day is the day before said Tuesday. No other filing deadlines would be affected.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS (Requires that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday when Labor Day is the day before said Tuesday.
No other filing deadlines would be affected.)

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.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Substitute A

Published version

Plain English: S2147A 2026 -- S 2147 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC004179/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.

S2147A 2026 -- S 2147 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC004179/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.
2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS Introduced By: Senators Burke, and LaMountain Date Introduced: January 16, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1.
Section 17-15-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary 2 Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 17-15-1.
Date of primaries.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-04-20 Governor
Signed by Governor
2026-04-16 House
House passed Sub A in concurrence
2026-04-16 Governor
Transmitted to Governor
2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on House Calendar (04/16/2026)
2026-04-07 Committee
Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence
2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (04/07/2026)
2026-04-01 Rhode Island General Assembly
Referred to House State Government & Elections
2026-03-31 Senate
Senate passed Sub A
2026-03-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on Senate Calendar (03/31/2026)
2026-03-26 Committee
Committee recommends passage of Sub A
2026-03-24 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (03/26/2026)
2026-03-24 Rhode Island General Assembly
Proposed Substitute
2026-02-26 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-02-23 Rhode Island General Assembly
Meeting postponed (02/24/2026)
2026-02-23 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/26/2026)
2026-02-20 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS (Requires that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday when Labor Day is the day before said Tuesday. No other filing deadlines would be affected.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S2147A

2026 -- S 2147 SUBSTITUTE A
========
LC004179/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Introduced By:
Senators Burke, and LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 17-15-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-15 entitled "Primary
2
Elections" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

17-15-1. Date of primaries.
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A primary election for the nomination of candidates for each political party shall be held
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in each voting district in the manner provided in this chapter on the eighth Tuesday preceding
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biennial state elections.
Provided, however, that if the eighth Tuesday is the day after Labor Day,
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then the primary election shall be held on the next day, the Wednesday, and in such occurrence, the
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dates for the primary candidate nomination, challenge, objection, hearing, withdrawal, vacancy,
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and certification processes established by §§ 17-14-11, 17-14-12, 17-15-38, and 17-19-7, including
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any ensuing statutory deadlines tied to those dates, shall be calculated as if the primary election
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were still held on the Tuesday.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004179/SUB A
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- PRIMARY ELECTIONS
***
1
This act would require that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday
2
preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday immediately following Labor
3
Day if the eighth Tuesday immediately follows Labor Day. This provision would not change any
4
other deadlines established in Title 17.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004179/SUB A
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