# Rhode Island S2045: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT . Rhode Island S2045, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Meghan E. Kallman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-22 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 186) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2045-2026 - 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 S2045 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-09 - Last action: 2026-06-22, Signed by Governor — Chapter 186 - Sponsor: Meghan E. Kallman (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (65 yes, 11 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Court visitors protected from civil arrest: benefit, low. The law protects people going to, at, or leaving a Rhode Island court from civil arrest if they are a party, a potential witness, or a family or household member of one. This protection does not apply if a judge issues a warrant or order for the arrest. Inside courthouses, officers must identify th… - Stronger remedies for illegal court arrests: benefit, low. If you believe this court-attendance protection was or may be violated, you can sue for court orders or a declaration. The Rhode Island Attorney General can also sue. If you win, you can recover costs and reasonable attorney fees. Courts can issue orders to protect access to proceedings and stop in… - Limits on suing judges and staff: cost, low. You cannot bring actions under this chapter against the judicial branch or court staff when they act lawfully to keep courts safe and orderly. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Meghan E. Kallman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jonathon Acosta (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Frank A. Ciccone, III (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dawn Euer (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tiara T. Mack (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Ana B. Quezada (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Samuel D. Zurier (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT Passage as Amended Passage | pass | 32 | 6 | | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT Approval of Amendment Passage | pass | 33 | 5 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-22: Signed by Governor — Chapter 186 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-11: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Senate voted to reconsider (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (Senate) - 2026-06-04: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-02: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-01: Proposed Substitute - 2026-05-30: Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2026) - 2026-05-05: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-01: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/05/2026) - 2026-01-09: Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) ## Bill text - S2045 - As Introduced, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045.pdf) - S2045 - Substitute, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045A.pdf) - S2045 - Substitute As Amended, 2026-01-09: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045Aaa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045Aaa.pdf) ## Related bills - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [S2045 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045.htm) - [S2045 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045.pdf) - [S2045 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045A.htm) - [S2045 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045A.pdf) - [S2045 - Substitute As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045Aaa.htm) - [S2045 - Substitute As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2045Aaa.pdf) ## Related - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026) - [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-S2045-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).