HB 7572 Rhode Island House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES

HB 7572 extends a 50-foot buffer zone around polling places that restricts political campaigning to include early voting locations, not just election day voting. This affects voters, candidates, and election officials by limiting political materials and displays near all voting sites. The key provision amends existing law to explicitly add "early voting" to the prohibition against distributing political materials or wearing campaign buttons within 50 feet of voting entrances. The change applies immediately upon passage and makes no other policy shifts.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Last action May 1, 2026
Floor votes · House Apr 30, 2026

How they voted

640
Passed · 10 other
Total votes 74
Apr 30, 2026
D Democratic63
55 Yea 8
87% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican10
8 Yea 2
80% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 1, 2026
Committee
05/01/2026 Referred to Senate Judiciary
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
04/30/2026 House read and passed
lower
Apr 16, 2026
Legislature · Passed
04/16/2026 Committee recommends passage
legislature
Mar 10, 2026
Committee
03/10/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
02/06/2026 Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
lower
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors