AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- AGREEMENT AMONG THE STATES TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Azzinaro and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island would repeal its participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, stopping its electors from being bound by the national popular vote winner.

03/25/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Summary — HB 5519 (2025)

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- AGREEMENT AMONG THE STATES TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT BY NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
Bill Number: HB 5519
Introduced: February 13, 2025
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Newberry, Edwards, Chippendale, Azzinaro, Roberts, Paplauskas, Fascia, Corvese, J. Brien, and Casey
Status (most recent actions): Committee hearing(s) held; left pending in committee. Committee previously recommended measure be held for further study (03/25/2025). Effective date (if enacted): upon passage.

Purpose / Intent

HB 5519 would repeal Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 17-4.2 — the statute that enacted and authorized the state to join the interstate compact known as the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The NPVIC is an agreement among states to allocate their electoral votes to the presidential slate that wins the national popular vote once enough jurisdictions (states + D.C.) join to control a majority of electoral votes (270).

Key provisions

Repeals Chapter 17-4.2 in its entirety. That chapter currently:

Enacts Rhode Island’s participation in the NPVIC (text mirrors the standard compact).
Describes how member states would determine the “national popular vote total” and designate the “national popular vote winner.”
Directs the state’s presidential elector certifying official to certify the slate associated with the national popular vote winner, if the compact is in effect nationally (i.e., adopted by jurisdictions totaling a majority of electoral votes).
Specifies trigger/implementation rules (compact becomes operative when member jurisdictions cumulatively possess a majority of electoral votes) and withdrawal timing (withdrawal within six months of end of a presidential term does not take effect until the next term).
Provides definitions for terms such as “chief election official,” “presidential slate,” and “statewide popular election.”

Section 2: the repeal would take effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

State government: the Secretary of State / chief election official and the state official who certifies presidential electors would no longer have statutory authority to allocate Rhode Island’s electors under the NPVIC framework.

Voters and presidential candidates: Rhode Island’s electoral votes (currently part of the Electoral College) would continue to be allocated under preexisting state law (i.e., not committed by statute to the national popular vote winner).

Interstate compact status: removing Rhode Island from the roster of potential NPVIC members would reduce the pool of electoral votes available toward the compact’s 270-vote threshold.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced 02/13/2025 and referred to House State Government & Elections.

Committee recommended measure be held for further study (03/25/2025).

Public hearing and committee consideration occurred 04/30/2025; testimony and registration recorded; bill left pending in committee.

If enacted, repeal takes effect upon passage.

Practical effect

Enactment would eliminate Rhode Island’s statutory authorization to join or remain part of the NPVIC, preventing the state from committing its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner under the compact’s terms. The state would continue to allocate electors under whatever other state law governs presidential elector appointment unless further statutory changes are adopted.