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Bill > H7305

RI H7305

RI H7305
Makes changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public.

summary

Introduced
01/23/2026
In Committee
01/23/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This act would make numerous changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public. Additionally, this act would include a police report of an incident that does not lead to an arrest as accessible to public records request. Any final reports of investigations conducted by internal affairs would be accessible to public records request. All police worn body camera footage would be accessible to public records request and would be made available within thirty (30) days. Arrest logs made within thirty (30) days of arrest, changed from five (5) days previously, would be accessible to public records request. A civil fine for public officials who knowingly violate this chapter would increase from two thousand dollars ($2,000) to four thousand dollars ($4,000), and if a public official recklessly violates this chapter a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) is a change from one thousand dollars ($1,000) previously. There would also be relief in the case of a person filing frivolous request with the intent to disrupt government operations. This act would take effect upon passage.

AI Summary

This bill makes several changes to the Access to Public Records Act, aiming to increase transparency and accountability. Key provisions include making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public, even if previously considered confidential under federal law or other state statutes, though restrictions on their use may still apply. It also clarifies that police reports of incidents that do not result in an arrest, and final reports from internal affairs investigations, are now public records, as is all police body-worn camera footage, which must be made available within 30 days of a request. The bill increases the civil fines for public officials who knowingly violate the Act from $2,000 to $4,000, and for reckless violations from $1,000 to $2,000, and allows for daily fines for improperly withheld records. Additionally, it introduces a process for public bodies to seek court orders to relieve them from fulfilling requests deemed to be made with the intent to disrupt government operations, while also providing relief for requesters if such complaints are dismissed. The timeframe for making arrest logs public has been extended from five days to thirty days after an arrest.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (10)

Last Action

Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections (on 01/23/2026)

bill text

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://status.rilegislature.gov/
BillText https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7305.pdf
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