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SR 2993

SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BAIL REFORMS ON BLACK RHODE ISLANDERS AND THE STATE

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 2 co-sponsors

Creates an 11-member panel to study economic and social impacts of bail reform, focusing on pre-trial supervised release and effects on Black Rhode Islanders, with findings by Feb

05/12/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SR 2993

Overview

  • Bill: SR 2993
  • Session: 2026, Rhode Island
  • Title: SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF BAIL REFORMS ON BLACK RHODE ISLANDERS AND THE STATE
  • Introduced: March 4, 2026
  • Referred To: Senate Judiciary
  • Primary purpose: Establish an 11-member special legislative commission to study how bail reforms, particularly pre-trial supervised release, impact Black Rhode Islanders and the state’s economy; assess benefits, risks, and potential policy recommendations; and report findings by early 2027.

Purpose and Intent

  • Examine pre-trial detention and bail practices as a key early stage in the criminal justice system.
  • Evaluate whether pre-trial supervised release (instead of money bail) can reduce jail populations, promote public safety, and yield economic and social benefits.
  • Specifically analyze the impact on Black Rhode Islanders and identify measures to reduce population in pre-trial detention, along with associated fees and costs for individuals and the state.
  • Inform data-driven policy solutions to balance public safety, cost, and civil rights considerations.

Key Provisions

  • Establishment: Creates an 11-member special legislative commission.
  • Composition:
    • 3 Rhode Island Senate members (appointed by the President of the Senate).
    • 1 Rhode Island Attorney General or designee.
    • 1 representative of the Judicial Branch (appointed by the Chief Justice).
    • 1 Chair of the Rhode Island Parole Board or designee.
    • 1 warden of a Rhode Island prison (appointed by the President of the Senate).
    • 1 representative from the Center for Health and Justice Transformation (appointed by the President of the Senate).
    • Director of the RI Department of Children, Youth & Families or designee.
    • 2 individuals who have been formerly incarcerated pre-trial in Rhode Island (appointed by the President of the Senate).
  • Appointments: In lieu of a legislator, a non-legislative public member may be appointed to the commission.
  • Purpose of the Commission: Analyze economic and societal benefits and risks of pre-trial supervised release as an alternative to pre-trial detention; determine impacts on Black Rhode Islanders; provide recommendations to reduce the pre-trial population and related fees/costs for both individuals and the state.
  • Organization and operations:
    • Members meet promptly upon passage; select a Chair from among legislative members.
    • Vacancies filled similarly to original appointments.
    • No compensation for commission members.
    • State departments/agencies to provide necessary information and assistance.
    • Joint Committee on Legislative Services to provide suitable quarters.
  • Reporting and duration:
    • Report findings to the President of the Senate no later than February 5, 2027.
    • Commission expires on April 5, 2027.

Who Is Affected

  • State agencies and departments (for data, analysis, and cooperation).
  • The Rhode Island legal and criminal justice system (via study of pre-trial detention and alternative release mechanisms).
  • Black Rhode Island residents (focus of impact analysis).
  • Individuals who are or could be subject to pre-trial detention or supervised release.
  • Stakeholder entities: Attorney General, Judicial Branch, Parole Board, state prisons, health/justice organizations (Center for Health and Justice Transformation), and the Department of Children, Youth & Families.
  • General public through potential policy reforms and changes in pre-trial practices.

Timelines and Procedures

  • Introduction: March 4, 2026.
  • Hearings/consideration: Scheduled (as of May 2026) for May 12, 2026.
  • Organization: To occur immediately after passage; chair chosen from among legislative members.
  • Reporting deadline: February 5, 2027.
  • Expiration: April 5, 2027 (commission ceases to exist unless extended or renewed by other action).

Practical Implications

  • The bill signals a formal, data-driven consideration of bail reform and pre-trial release options as a means to address disparities, particularly affecting Black Rhode Islanders.
  • If the commission finds net economic and social benefits to pre-trial supervised release, potential follow-up legislation could seek to replace or reduce money bail requirements and adjust related fees.
  • The study could influence budgeting, system operations, and public safety planning by providing cost-benefit analyses and treatment of unintended consequences (e.g., flight risk, public safety, housing stability).

Summary

SR 2993 creates an 11-member bipartisan commission to evaluate the economic and societal impact of bail reform, with a specific emphasis on effects on Black Rhode Islanders. The commission will study pre-trial supervised release as an alternative to pre-trial detention, assess associated costs and benefits, gather input from key state agencies and previously incarcerated individuals, and deliver findings by February 2027. The measure emphasizes data-driven policy development and aims to inform potential reforms to reduce pre-trial detention and related financial burdens.

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

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