Rhode Island Bill Empowers Diversity Committees to Appoint Judicial Nominating Commission Members and Mandates Political Donation Disclosures

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION (Permits RI Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, in consultation with RI Bar Association and its Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to appoint members of JNC and requires judicial candidates to disclose political donations.)

Last action · May 28, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: Dawn Euer and 8 others

Companion · H 8048same policy, House version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

This legislation authorizes the Rhode Island Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, alongside specific bar association committees, to appoint members to the and requires judicial candidates to publicly disclose all political donations.

Why it matters

Changes the composition mechanism of the body that screens judicial applicants and imposes a new transparency requirement on candidates regarding past political contributions.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Judicial candidates

Must disclose political donations as part of the application process.

Directly affected

Judicial Nominating Commission

Experiences a change in how its members are appointed.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who appoints members to the Judicial Nominating Commission under this bill?

The Rhode Island Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, in consultation with the RI Bar Association and its Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is permitted to appoint members.

What new requirement must judicial candidates fulfill?

Judicial candidates are required to disclose their political donations.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

May 28, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
May 26, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/28/2026)
Mar 4, 2026Introduced
Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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