S3360
Authorizing the Amendment of the Warwick City Charter to Allow for Enactment of Ordinances That Subject Mayoral Appointments to Certain Codified City Boards and Commissions to the Advice and Consent of the City Council
This bill lets Warwick voters decide if the city council can approve or reject the mayor's board and commission appointments.
Introduced
06/05/2026
Government: Cities & Towns
Bill Sponsors
McKenney, Appollonio, and LaMountain
Committee
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
Summary
Select
This bill allows the city of Warwick to amend its city charter, giving the city council the power to enact ordinances that would require the council's approval for the mayor's appointments to city boards and commissions. The Board of Public Safety is specifically excluded from this new rule. Before this charter amendment can take effect, it must be presented as a ballot question and approved by Warwick voters during the November 2026 general election or an earlier special election.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Increases democratic oversight by allowing the city council to review and approve mayoral appointments, reducing the risk of unilateral executive power.
- Empowers locally elected council members to ensure that appointees to city boards are diverse, qualified, and represent the community's interests.
- Gives the citizens of Warwick a direct voice in their local government structure by requiring voter approval through a ballot measure.
Cons for Progressives
- Explicitly exempts the Board of Public Safety from council oversight, limiting democratic accountability over police and fire departments, which is a key area of concern for progressive systemic reform.
- May introduce partisan gridlock or political maneuvering into the appointment process, potentially delaying the filling of important board vacancies and hindering public services.
- Could be used by a conservative-leaning city council to block progressive nominees chosen by a progressive mayor, stifling efforts to reform city commissions.
Pros for Conservatives
- Establishes stronger checks and balances on the mayor, preventing executive overreach by requiring legislative approval for appointments.
- Preserves the independence of the Board of Public Safety by exempting it from the council's advice and consent, ensuring law enforcement oversight remains insulated from council politics.
- Places the final decision directly in the hands of the voters, aligning with conservative principles of local control and direct democracy.
Cons for Conservatives
- Increases bureaucratic red tape by adding a legislative approval layer to standard executive appointments, potentially slowing down local government operations.
- Could allow a hostile or politically motivated city council to weaponize the confirmation process against a conservative mayor's nominees.
- Blurs the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of local government by giving the council greater control over administrative boards.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Warwick voters
- Warwick city council members
- Warwick mayor
- City board and commission appointees
Towns Affected
Warwick
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 06/05/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
• 06/05/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 06/09/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 Senate read and passed
• 06/05/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 06/09/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 Senate read and passed
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Pursuant to the request of the Warwick City Council by resolution adopted on May 11, 2026, Article VIII of the Warwick City Charter is hereby amended to read as follows:
8-23. – Council Advice and Consent to Boards and Commissions.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this charter to the contrary, and except for the Board of Public Safety, the city council may enact ordinances that subject mayoral appointments to city boards and commissions specifically codified in the charter or the code of ordinances to the advice and consent of the city council.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Article 10, Section 29 of the Warwick City Charter, these amendments shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next general election to be held in November, 2026, or a special election as may be scheduled sooner, for approval or rejection thereof, in the following form:
1. Shall the city council be authorized to enact ordinances that subject mayoral appointments to city boards and commissions specifically codified in the charter or the code of ordinances, except for the Board of Public Safety, to the advice and consent of the city council?
APPROVE DISAPPROVE
SECTION 3. Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon passage. Section 1 of this act shall take effect upon approval by the voters of the city of Warwick at a general or special election.
8-23. – Council Advice and Consent to Boards and Commissions.
Notwithstanding any provisions of this charter to the contrary, and except for the Board of Public Safety, the city council may enact ordinances that subject mayoral appointments to city boards and commissions specifically codified in the charter or the code of ordinances to the advice and consent of the city council.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Article 10, Section 29 of the Warwick City Charter, these amendments shall be submitted to the voters of the city at the next general election to be held in November, 2026, or a special election as may be scheduled sooner, for approval or rejection thereof, in the following form:
1. Shall the city council be authorized to enact ordinances that subject mayoral appointments to city boards and commissions specifically codified in the charter or the code of ordinances, except for the Board of Public Safety, to the advice and consent of the city council?
APPROVE DISAPPROVE
SECTION 3. Section 2 of this act shall take effect upon passage. Section 1 of this act shall take effect upon approval by the voters of the city of Warwick at a general or special election.