Rhode Island Senate Bill S3109

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/13/26
• Refer: 3/13/26

Caption

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- COUNTY GRAND JURIES

Summary

This bill amends Rhode Island’s county grand jury and statewide grand jury statutes to expressly authorize grand juries to issue written reports. Under the bill, a county grand jury or statewide grand jury may submit a report to the presiding justice of the Superior Court on matters involving a person subject to the state code of ethics or on any matter of public concern, so long as at least twelve jurors concur and sign the report. The bill also confirms that statewide grand juries may issue reports and continue to exercise their existing statewide investigative and indictment powers. The measure creates a detailed court review process before any grand jury report may be released as a public record. The presiding justice must review the report and grand jury minutes, ensure the report is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, confirm that named persons or entities had a reasonable opportunity to testify, and require redaction or sealing of material that is privileged, unrelated, identifies a confidential informant, or could prejudice a pending criminal case. Named persons or entities must be notified and given an opportunity to submit a written response, and both the acceptance of a report and a refusal to accept one may be appealed to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Impact

The bill would change Rhode Island criminal procedure by adding a new statutory mechanism for grand jury reports and by clarifying that both county and statewide grand juries may issue them. It would affect the operation of grand juries, the Superior Court’s supervisory role, and the public disclosure of grand jury materials, while also creating new rights for named individuals or entities to receive notice, respond, and appeal. The bill would primarily affect prosecutors, grand juries, the judiciary, and public officials or other subjects of grand jury scrutiny, especially in ethics-related or public concern matters.

Sentiment

The available context suggests a generally favorable or reform-oriented purpose, with the bill introduced by multiple senators and described in the caption as permitting grand jury reports and establishing a review process for public dissemination. No committee transcript or recorded votes are provided, so there is no documented opposition or support beyond the bill’s text and introduction. The structure of the bill indicates an effort to balance transparency with procedural safeguards, which may appeal to both accountability advocates and those concerned with due process.

Contention

The main points of contention are likely to be the scope of grand jury reporting power and the risk of public disclosure affecting fairness in criminal matters. Supporters would likely emphasize transparency, especially for matters involving ethics or public concern, while critics may worry that public grand jury reports could prejudice pending cases, expose confidential information, or be used to make allegations without the protections of a trial. Another likely issue is the breadth of the phrase “matter of public concern,” which could be viewed as giving grand juries substantial discretion.