Bill Sponsors
Bissaillon, LaMountain, Appollonio, McKenney, and Famiglietti
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This legislation amends the "Quasi-Public Corporations Accountability and Transparency Act." It mandates that when quasi-public corporations (entities that serve public purposes but operate like private companies) submit their meeting agendas to the Secretary of State, they must also include or link to all documents that will be discussed during that open meeting. This ensures that the public has access to the same materials the board members are reviewing, promoting greater transparency regarding the decisions made by these bodies.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Increases transparency and democratic oversight of quasi-public entities, allowing the community to better monitor how public resources and authority are being utilized.
- Empowers activists and advocacy groups with the information necessary to challenge decisions or propose alternatives before votes are taken, rather than reacting after the fact.
- Helps prevent corruption and backroom deals by ensuring that the documentation justifying decisions is available for public scrutiny.
Cons for Progressives
- Does not mandate that the documents provided be written in plain language, potentially leaving complex technical documents inaccessible to the average citizen despite being public.
- Reliance on digital posting may exclude low-income populations who lack reliable internet access from participating in this oversight.
- May create a false sense of security regarding accountability without addressing deeper structural issues within the governance of quasi-public corporations.
Pros for Conservatives
- Enhances accountability for taxpayer-funded or government-backed entities, ensuring that financial and operational decisions are open to scrutiny.
- Provides a mechanism to identify waste, fraud, or abuse within quasi-government sectors by making internal documents public.
- Reinforces the rule of law by strictly defining the obligations of government-affiliated bodies to the citizens they serve.
Cons for Conservatives
- Increases regulatory red tape and administrative burdens on quasi-public corporations, potentially diverting time and resources away from their core missions.
- Could slow down decision-making processes by adding additional procedural hurdles to the preparation of board meetings.
- May discourage qualified individuals from serving on boards due to increased scrutiny and the administrative complexity of compliance.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Quasi-Public Corporations
- Board Members of Quasi-Public Corporations
- Government Watchdog Groups
- Journalists and Media
- General Public
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 42-155-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-155 entitled "Quasi- Public Corporations Accountability and Transparency Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
42-155-6. Transparency requirements established.
The following shall be public, and available to the public upon request and posted directly, or via direct link, on the website of each quasi-public corporation:
(1) Job descriptions of the executive director and management;
(2) Compensation comparability studies of the executive and senior management, and current and approved salaries;
(3) Quarterly financial statements;
(4) Capital improvement plans;
(5) Operating budgets;
(6) Strategic plan;
(7) Agendas and minutes of the open meetings of the board, including all documents to be discussed at an open meeting of a public body shall be posted or linked with the electronic filing of the agenda submitted to the secretary of state pursuant to § 42-46-6;
(8) Quarterly contracting reports and annual contracting reports required by § 42-90-1;
(9) Regulations adopted by the quasi-public corporation;
(10) Enabling legislation;
(11) Mission statement;
(12) Board members;
(13) Organizational chart and list of current salaries of positions;
(14) Bylaws of the quasi-public corporation;
(15) All reports and audits required by this chapter or other general laws; and
(16) Any and all policies and procedures established by the board members pursuant to the provisions of § 42-155-4(b).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
42-155-6. Transparency requirements established.
The following shall be public, and available to the public upon request and posted directly, or via direct link, on the website of each quasi-public corporation:
(1) Job descriptions of the executive director and management;
(2) Compensation comparability studies of the executive and senior management, and current and approved salaries;
(3) Quarterly financial statements;
(4) Capital improvement plans;
(5) Operating budgets;
(6) Strategic plan;
(7) Agendas and minutes of the open meetings of the board, including all documents to be discussed at an open meeting of a public body shall be posted or linked with the electronic filing of the agenda submitted to the secretary of state pursuant to § 42-46-6;
(8) Quarterly contracting reports and annual contracting reports required by § 42-90-1;
(9) Regulations adopted by the quasi-public corporation;
(10) Enabling legislation;
(11) Mission statement;
(12) Board members;
(13) Organizational chart and list of current salaries of positions;
(14) Bylaws of the quasi-public corporation;
(15) All reports and audits required by this chapter or other general laws; and
(16) Any and all policies and procedures established by the board members pursuant to the provisions of § 42-155-4(b).
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.