Rhode Island Department of State
Gregg M. Amore

Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore Statement on End of Legislative Session

General Assembly passes 8 priority bills of the RI Department of State

PROVIDENCE, RI - Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore today issued the following statement in recognition of the end of the 2024 legislative session:

"In my time as Secretary of State, I have had many opportunities to work with our staff and our partners to identify ways our government could be better serving Rhode Islanders – whether through elections processes, support for business owners and non-profit leaders, or services like the State Library or the Public Records Administration. I appreciate the support of the General Assembly in passing so many of our office's priority bills, and I feel confident that these changes will result in better government services for our state," said Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

The General Assembly passed eight of Secretary Amore's priority bills this session:

Elections
The General Assembly passed four of the RI Department of State's priority bills related to elections, which will simplify the party affiliation and voter registration process, codify processes related to the review of nomination papers, make ballot questions more accessible to voters, and update and clarify elections law.

The first bill, H7662 (Serpa) / S2418 Sub A (Raptakis), updates Rhode Island law to allow unaffiliated voters who participate in a party primary to return to their unaffiliated status automatically after participating in said election. The bill eliminates the need for unaffiliated voters to complete a disaffiliation form, which is currently an administrative burden for the 47% of Rhode Island voters who maintain an unaffiliated registration status. The bill was supported by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, the Rhode Island Town and City Clerks' Association, and local boards of canvassers, including those in Cranston, Newport, Providence, and Woonsocket.

H7664 Sub A (Speakman) / S3058 (Euer) codifies a process through which local election officials are notified of suspected forgery or fraud on nomination papers, and requires that instances of suspected forgery or fraud are reviewed and adjudicated in a timely manner. The bill is intended to ensure that all municipalities have a uniform reporting process and receive timely information, and that the State Board of Elections has an efficient, standardized process in place to make determinations related to ballot eligibility.

Also passed this session was H7476 (Shanley) / S2447 (McKenney), which requires ballot questions to be written in plain language at an eighth-grade reading level. The change helps to make ballot question language more understandable and accessible for all Rhode Island voters.

Finally, H8304 (Shanley) / S3059 (Euer) updates State statute on the meeting of presidential electors to conform with a recent change to the federal Electoral Count Reform Act. Passage of this legislation protects the State from potential litigation and assures Rhode Islanders of the legitimacy of the counting of their electoral votes.

"It is my priority to enfranchise voters and ensure Rhode Island's elections are secure and accurate," said Secretary Amore. "The passage of these four bills do just that through the establishment of processes designed to protect the integrity of our elections and increase the accessibility of voting for all eligible Rhode Islanders."

Business Services
The General Assembly passed two bills that will strengthen the RI Department of State's ability to serve Rhode Island's business and non-profit community.

H8055 (Voas) / S3056 (Euer) allows the Division of Taxation to share information with the RI Department of State about taxes owed by Rhode Island business entities. Each year that business owners fail to file their taxes, they accumulate penalties and interest fees along with the tax they already owe. Unfortunately, some businesses only become aware that they owe fees or taxes when they reinstate or dissolve their business. The information-share will allow the Department of State to keep those entities informed of their tax obligations and by doing so, help them avoid unnecessary fees and penalties. The language was drafted in collaboration with the Rhode Island Business Coalition and the Division of Taxation.

The General Assembly also passed a bill, supported by the Department of Business Regulation, Rhode Island Commerce, the Rhode Island Town and City Clerks' Association, and the Rhode Island Business Coalition to update language related to trade names in Rhode Island State law. H7424 as amended (Shanley) / S2739 Sub A as amended (Quezada) requires the filing, administration, and regulation of trade names through one central portal housed by the RI Department of State, improving the trade name registration process for business entities, such as sole proprietorships and general partnerships. The portal will help increase transparency and the accessibility of business information by providing a full scope of the business landscape in Rhode Island.

"Our team in the Business Services Division seeks to provide thoughtful guidance and comprehensive services to those looking to start and maintain a business or a non-profit in Rhode Island," said Secretary Amore. "Through conversations with small business owners, we have identified these concerns and opportunities, and I believe these pieces of legislation will help my team to provide businesses in Rhode Island with helpful, timely, and accurate assistance."

State Archives and the State Library
The General Assembly passed a bill designed to make certified copies of vital records more accessible to local registrars and the general public who needs to request them. H7663 as amended (Cortvriend) / S2274 Sub A as amended (DiPalma) grants local registrars the authority to issue certified copies of certificates and records that are born digitally, facilitating access to these documents for their residents. The RI Department of State was proud to partner with the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Town and City Clerks' Association on the legislation.

The General Assembly also modernized laws related to the State Library through H7475 (Carson) / S2742 (McKenney). The bill, supported by the Rhode Island Library Association, makes updates to the clearinghouse process, better reflects the role of the State Librarian and Clearinghouse Director, and sets guidelines for digital publication in a way that is reflective of growing technology and best practices. The bill enables the State Library to continue to serve as the State's legislative library, while also remaining flexible to better serve patrons and constituents.

Additionally, the FY25 budget passed by the General Assembly included funding to ensure the Department's Elections Division has adequate resources to print ballots, send mail ballots and voter list maintenance mailings, and conduct robust voter outreach. The General Assembly also provided additional support to the RI250 Commission, which is administered by the Department of State, to increase programming to celebrate the Semiquincentennial. Finally, the Department is receiving $500,000 in Rhode Island Capital Plan Funds to continue its efforts to build a State Archives and History Center.

"As this session comes to a close, I am grateful for all of the partners who helped us achieve so many of our legislative goals, allowing us to better serve Rhode Islanders," said Secretary Amore. "I want to especially thank Governor McKee, Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Ruggerio, and all of the Senators and Representatives who sponsored and supported legislation on behalf of the RI Department of State."

To learn more about the Rhode Island Department of State, visit sos.ri.gov.

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