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S2152 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Bissaillon, Bell, DiMario, Urso, Famiglietti
Last action
2026-01-16
Official status
Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
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 -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

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

  1. 2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS (Requires public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of said bodies.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S2152

2026 -- S 2152
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LC003839
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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 -- OPEN MEETINGS

Introduced By:
Senators Bissaillon, Bell, DiMario, Urso, and Famiglietti

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42-46 of the General Laws entitled "Open Meetings" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-46-15. Translation and interpretation services.

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(a) All public bodies shall develop a translation assistance plan setting forth the steps
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necessary to ensure that all open meetings of said bodies shall have the proceedings accessible to
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an individual in a language they understand, upon request.
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(b) The public body shall implement the translation assistance plan under this section by
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September 1, 2027.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003839
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS
***
1
This act would require public bodies to offer translation services for all open meetings of
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said bodies.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003839
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