# Rhode Island H7377: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES . Rhode Island H7377, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Lauren H. Carson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 420) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7377-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7377 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-28 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 420 - Sponsor: Lauren H. Carson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (174 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Chief local election official duties: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the town or city clerk, or a board-designated election administrator, is the chief local election official. This person is the main contact with the Secretary of State and the state board of elections. They must name an alternate and keep emergency contacts for the chief,… - Clear rules to pick local election boards: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, cities and towns follow set steps to fill local election boards. The mayor, or the council president if there is no mayor, must pick nominees from party lists that have five times the number of open seats. A nominee must be sent within 30 days, and if rejected, another na… - Six-year terms and meeting quorums: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, members serve six-year terms that start on the first Monday in March after appointment. Terms must be staggered so expirations fall on the first Monday in March of odd-numbered years. City and town clerks must fix any records that show the wrong end dates. Alternates also… - Who can serve on election boards: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, officers or employees of the U.S., the State of Rhode Island, or the city or town cannot serve on a local election board. In a city, a board member may also serve as the board’s clerk. A member who becomes a candidate and does not file a timely declination is disqualified… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Lauren H. Carson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Evan P. Shanley (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | LOCAL CANVASSING AUTH PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-04-30 | House | LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES PASSAGE | pass | 67 | 0 | | ## Actions (17) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 420 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-11: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-08: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) - 2026-04-30: House read and passed (House) - 2026-04-24: Placed on House Calendar (04/30/2026) (House) - 2026-03-31: Committee recommends passage - 2026-03-27: Scheduled for consideration (03/31/2026) - 2026-02-05: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-01-30: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/05/2026) - 2026-01-28: Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections (House) ## Bill text - H7377 - As Introduced, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377.pdf) - H7377 - Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377A.pdf) ## Related bills - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H7377 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377.htm) - [H7377 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377.pdf) - [H7377 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377A.htm) - [H7377 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7377A.pdf) ## Related - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026) - [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026) - [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026) - [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7377-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).