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S3316Aaa
2026 -- S 3316 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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LC006497/SUB A
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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
REGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN
MEETING
Introduced By:
Senators Rogers, and de la Cruz
Date Introduced:
May 22, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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WHEREAS, The Town Council of the Town of Scituate on April 9, 2026 adopted a
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resolution requesting that the general assembly enact the following provision relating to the annual
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financial town meeting:
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Provided that the appropriations recommended by the Town Council have been
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made no later than the fourth Thursday in April immediately preceding the town meeting
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to be held on the first Tuesday in June, no motion which increases or reduces an
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appropriation recommended by the town council by $10,000.00 or more, shall be in order
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at such meeting unless notice of intention to make such motion has been presented to the
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town treasurer with the signatures of not less than ten (10) qualified electors of the town
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no later than the May 15 immediately preceding said such meeting. Notice of such motion
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shall be included in the publication required under § 44-35-6. Provided notice of such
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motion has been made, then amendments made at such town meeting to such motion for
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any lesser amount may be considered at the town meeting.
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SECTION 1. Section 4 of Chapter 1321 of the Public Laws Of, 1915, entitled “An Act
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Fixing The Time For The Election Of Officers In The Town Of Scituate” as previously amended
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by Chapter 3777 of the Public Laws of 1956, and by Chapters 225 and 312 of the Public Laws of
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2022, is hereby amended to read as follows:
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“Sec. 4. The town meeting for the ordering and disposing of taxes and consideration
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of all matters relating to the finances of said town, shall be held in the calendar year 2023
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on the first Tuesday next after the first Monday in April at 7:00 P.M., and in the calendar
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year 2024 and thereafter on the first Tuesday in the month of June at 7:00 P.M., at which
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meeting the town moderator shall preside. The meeting shall be held in the town of Scituate
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at such location as the town council shall determine by resolution from time to time, unless
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the alternative provisions of § 45-3-4, are invoked by the town council.
Provided that the
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budget recommended by the town council has been made no later than the fourth Thursday
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in April immediately preceding the town meeting to be held on the first Tuesday in June,
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and such budget recommendation has been posted on the town's website within seven (7)
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calendar days thereafter, no motion which increases or reduces an appropriation
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recommended by the town council by $10,000 or more, shall be in order at such meeting
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unless notice of intention to make such motion has been presented to the town treasurer
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with the signatures of not less than ten (10) qualified electors of the town no later than the
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May 15 immediately preceding said such meeting. Notice of any such motion shall be
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included in the warrant required under § 45-3-8 or posted on the town's website at least
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seven (7) days prior to such town meeting. Provided notice of such motion has been made,
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then amendments made at such town meeting to such motion for any lesser amount may
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be considered at the town meeting.
”
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SECTION 2. The question of the acceptance or rejection of this act shall be submitted to
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the electors of the town at the general election to be held on November 3, 2026. The question shall
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be submitted in substantially the following form: “Shall an act, passed at the 2026 session of the
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General Assembly, entitled ‘AN ACT REGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE
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ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN MEETING’ be approved?" and the warning for the election shall
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contain the question to be submitted. The Town Board of Canvassers may combine any two or
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more voting districts for the election and when so combined shall be treated as a voting district. If
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so combined, the Town Board of Canvassers shall advertise the combination of districts in a
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newspaper of general circulation in the Town. From the time the election is warned and until it is
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held, it shall be the duty of the Town Clerk to keep a copy of the act available at his or her office
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for public inspection, but the validity of the election shall not be affected by this requirement.
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The town clerk of the town of Scituate shall forthwith after said town meeting certify to
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the secretary of state the result of this vote upon the question submitted.
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SECTION 3. This section and section 2 of this act shall take effect upon passage, and the
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remainder of this act shall take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of those voting on
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the question at the election prescribed by section 2.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
REGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN
MEETING
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This act would amend a public law regarding the fixing of time for the election of officers
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in the town of Scituate by requiring prior notice and posting of motions to be made from the floor
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at the annual financial town meeting of the town of Scituate now held on the first Tuesday in the
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month of June. This requirement would not apply to special meetings held under §§ 45-3-6 or 45-
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3-7.
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Sections 2 and 3 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remainder of this act would
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take effect upon the approval of this act by a majority of those voting on the question at the election
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prescribed by section 2, by the electors of the town of Scituate at the November 3, 2026, general
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election.
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