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RI S2593

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/13/2026

Primary Sponsor

Brian Thompson

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2026 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Redefines "political party" or "major party" to include organizations whose candidate for President, U.S. Senator, Representative, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, or state treasurer received at least 2% of total statewide votes in the last general election

  • Major party status also granted to organizations with one or more members serving in the General Assembly, or with at least 5,000 voters enrolled as of June 1 of a general election year

  • Creates new definition of "minor parties" as political organizations with fewer than 5,000 registered voters or whose candidates received less than 2% of total votes in the previous election

  • Eliminates the previous 5% vote threshold requirement and the petition-based pathway for qualifying as a political party

  • Takes effect upon passage

Legislative Description

Redefines "Political Party" and defines and distinguishes between "major parties" and "minor parties" based on the total number of votes a party's candidate received in the previous election among other factors.

Elections

Last Action

Committee recommended measure be held for further study

2/26/2026

Committee Referrals

Judiciary2/13/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available