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HR 7791

JOINT RESOLUTION 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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chippendale and 3 co-sponsors

Rhode Island would merge the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State into a single combined office starting in 2030, consolidating their duties under one elected official.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HR 7791

Summary of HR 7791 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Joint Resolution to Combine the Offices of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State

Purpose and intent

  • The bill proposes a Constitutional amendment to combine the offices of the Lieutenant Governor and the Secretary of State into a single combined office, beginning with the November 2030 election.
  • The amendment would replace the current separate offices, creating a unified executive role responsible for duties currently performed by both offices.

Key provisions and changes

  • Article IV, Section 1 (Election and terms) would be amended to reflect the consolidation:
    • Currently, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and General Treasurer are elected to four-year terms, with limits on consecutive terms (no more than two full terms in the same office).
    • Starting with the November 2030 election, the offices of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State would be combined into one office, and the duties and obligations of both offices would be merged into that single office.
  • Other offices and officials (Governor, Attorney General, General Treasurer, and General Assembly members) remain under the existing framework with their respective election cycles and term lengths (Governor and other statewide officers would continue to run on quadrennial terms; General Assembly members on two-year terms).
  • Recall provisions (for general officers who have been indicted, charged with a felony, convicted of a misdemeanor, or found to have violated ethics rules) are retained and detailed in the amendment, including thresholds (3% to file for recall; signatures required: 15% of last general election votes) and procedures (verification by the State Board of Elections; potential special election with majority vote removing the officer).
  • The amendment sets the mechanics for submission to voters:
    • The joint resolution must be approved by a majority of all members elected in both houses.
    • The proposition will be submitted to the electors at the next statewide general election.
    • Publication and notice requirements are included, ensuring the proposition is published in newspapers and read at town, city, ward, and district meetings.

Affected parties and entities

  • Primary impact: Rhode Island electorate and state government structure, specifically:
    • The offices of Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State would cease to exist as separate offices after the 2029 term, with combined duties beginning in 2030.
    • State government operations currently handled by those two offices would be centralized under one executive position.
  • Other constitutional officers (Governor, Attorney General, General Treasurer) and General Assembly members would remain as elected officials with existing term frameworks.
  • Election administration authorities (State Board of Elections) would oversee the recall process and related procedures for the combined office, as applicable.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Initiation: Introduced February 12, 2026; referred to House State Government & Elections.
  • Action history indicates committee consideration in 2026, with a recommendation to hold for further study (April 30, 2026).
  • Amendment text specifies that the combination would take effect starting with the 2030 election, implying a transition period during 2026–2029 to implement the necessary legal and administrative changes.
  • If approved by the General Assembly, the proposition would be submitted to the voters at the next statewide general election, with standard voting procedures for statewide measures (inclusive of necessary publication and notification steps).

Notable details

  • The measure is explicit about term limits and recall processes, preserving a robust framework for accountability and public participation.
  • The consolidation is designed to occur in 2030, ensuring a defined transition path rather than an immediate change.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language Q&A-style explainer or comparison to the current structure showing which duties would transfer to the new combined office.

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

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