WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 2937

AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- COURT ADMINISTRATION

2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Burke and 8 co-sponsors

The bill protects RI judges and certain federal judges and their immediate families by prohibiting public disclosure or sale of their personal information, with notices to remove d

06/19/2026 Signed by Governor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2937

Summary of SB 2937 (2026) – Rhode Island

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes and updates provisions related to the Rhode Island Judicial Security Act within the Court Administration framework.
  • Aims to protect the personal information of “protected individuals” (retired, recalled, or current justices, judges, or magistrates in RI, and certain high-level federal judges residing in RI) and their immediate family members from public disclosure and data aggregation.
  • Allows authorized agents to file notices on behalf of protected individuals to request confidentiality.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Section 8-15-12):

    • Data aggregator: a commercial entity that collects or maintains personal information to sell or provide access.
    • Immediate family: spouse/partner, child, step-child, parent, or other blood relative living in the same residence as the protected individual.
    • Personal information: includes Social Security numbers, home/phone numbers, and personal email addresses identifiable to the protected individual or immediate family.
    • Protected individual: RI judges, justices, or magistrates (and certain federal counterparts who reside in RI).

  • Protections against public disclosure (b):

    • Agencies may not publicly post or display a protected individual’s or immediate family’s personal information after receiving notice, without written permission.
    • Protected individuals may file a written notice with any agency to mark information as confidential.
    • Agencies must remove the personal information from publicly available content within 72 hours of the written notice.
    • Written requests may be submitted directly or via an authorized agent; the request must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit if submitted through an agent.
    • The provision does not apply to delinquent taxpayer lists published under specific RI law, though personal addresses must be removed from those lists upon notice.

  • Protections against data aggregators (c):

    • Data aggregators may not sell, trade, license, or provide protected individuals’ personal information following notice.
    • Protected individuals may file written notices to require confidentiality with data aggregators, businesses, or associations.
    • Data aggregators/ businesses must remove the information from public content within 10 business days and may not publicly post or display it without written permission.
    • Notices via an authorized agent must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit.
    • Within 10 business days, the entity must ensure the information is not available on any website or subsidiary sites, with limited exceptions for governmental agencies, law enforcement, healthcare, insurance, financial institutions, fraud prevention, or legal processes.
    • Transfers of information after notice are restricted; transfers required to effectuate the request or necessary for the request are permitted.
    • Individuals may sue for injunctive or declaratory relief in RI courts if violations occur; prevailing plaintiffs may recover costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

  • Enforcement and remedies:

    • Violations may lead to court action for injunctive or declaratory relief, with potential recovery of costs and attorneys’ fees.

Who would be affected

  • Protected individuals: RI judges, justices, magistrates, and certain associated federal judges residing in RI.
  • Immediate family members of protected individuals.
  • State, county, and municipal agencies that handle public records and personal information.
  • Data aggregators, businesses, and associations that collect or publish personal information.
  • Authorized agents acting on behalf of protected individuals.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: The Act takes effect upon passage (no separate future effective date).
  • Notice and removal timelines:
    • Agencies: remove information within 72 hours of receipt of written notice.
    • Data aggregators: remove information within 10 business days of written notice.
  • Authorized agent filing:
    • Notices may be filed by an authorized agent if accompanied by a notarized affidavit confirming agency authority.
  • Ongoing compliance:
    • Post-notice prohibitions on further dissemination without permission.
    • Transfers of personal information are restricted after notice, with specific allowed exceptions.

Additional notes

  • The bill includes an explanatory section clarifying that an authorized agent may file notices on behalf of a protected individual.
  • The act explicitly addresses both public postings by government agencies and private data aggregators/businesses.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language FAQ or a side-by-side comparison with current RI law to highlight exact changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.