# Rhode Island S2136: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES . Rhode Island S2136, AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 421) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2136-2026 - 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 S2136 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-16 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 421 - Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 3 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (107 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Bipartisan appointments to local canvassing boards: benefit, low. Beginning 2027-01-01, each city or town appoints a three-member canvassing board. No more than two members may be from the same party. Up to two alternates may be named with the same party limit. Party chairs must send a list with five names for each seat to fill. The mayor or council president mus… - Chief local election official named: benefit, low. Beginning 2027-01-01, if the town or city clerk runs elections, that clerk (or a designee) is the chief local election official. If a separate elections office runs elections, the local board names the chief. The chief must name an alternate and keep emergency contacts on file with the Secretary of… - New quorum rules for canvassing boards: benefit, low. Beginning 2027-01-01, one board member is enough to receive voter registrations. Two members are needed for all other board actions. - Six-year terms for canvassing members: benefit, low. Beginning 2027-01-01, canvassing board members serve six-year terms. Terms start the first Monday in March after appointment and expire on the first Monday in March of odd-numbered years. Alternates also serve six-year terms on the same schedule. Government officers or employees of the U.S., Rhode… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Andrew R. Dimitri (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-06-10 | Senate | RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 421 (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) - 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-08: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-02-26: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-02-23: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/26/2026) - 2026-02-23: Meeting postponed (02/24/2026) - 2026-02-20: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration - 2026-01-16: Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) ## Bill text - S2136 - As Introduced, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136.pdf) - S2136 - Substitute, 2026-01-16: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136A.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 - [S2136 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136.htm) - [S2136 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136.pdf) - [S2136 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136A.htm) - [S2136 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2136A.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-S2136-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).