Rhode Island House Bill H7791

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/26
• Refer: 2/12/26

Caption

TO APPROVE, PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF, AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE -- COMBINING THE OFFICES, OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE

Summary

H7791 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to merge Rhode Island’s offices of lieutenant governor and secretary of state into a single office. The amendment would revise Article IV, Section 1 of the state constitution to reflect the combined office and its merged duties, with the change taking effect beginning with the November 2030 election. The resolution also preserves the existing election cycle and term structure for statewide officers and adds the combined office to the list of constitutional officers. In addition to combining the two offices, the bill creates a constitutional framework for recall of statewide general officers. It specifies the grounds for recall, the timing restrictions on when recall may be initiated, the signature thresholds for both the initial application and the recall petition, and the process for a special election if the required signatures are verified. It also directs the General Assembly to enact implementing legislation for the recall process and requires the proposition to be submitted to voters at the next statewide general election, with publication and notice procedures for ballot placement.

Impact

If approved by voters, the resolution would amend the Rhode Island Constitution and permanently alter the structure of state executive offices by eliminating the separate offices of lieutenant governor and secretary of state and replacing them with one combined office. It would also establish constitutional recall procedures for general officers, affecting how those officials may be removed from office and requiring future statutory implementation by the General Assembly. The measure would primarily affect statewide officeholders, the State Board of Elections, and the legal framework governing elections, recalls, and succession.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the text alone, the resolution appears to be a structural government reform proposal rather than a policy bill, and its ultimate adoption would depend on both legislative approval and voter ratification. The inclusion of recall provisions suggests an emphasis on accountability, while the office consolidation reflects an administrative reorganization.

Contention

The main likely point of contention is the proposed consolidation of two separately elected constitutional offices into one, which could raise concerns about checks and balances, workload, and the independence of the secretary of state’s election-related functions. Another possible area of debate is the recall language, especially the thresholds, timing limits, and the role of the ethics commission or criminal charges as triggers for recall eligibility. Supporters would likely emphasize efficiency and accountability, while opponents may argue the change concentrates power and alters the constitutional design of state government.