On January 28, legislation was introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly to repeal the state’s current lobbying law and replace it with a new system of lobbyist regulation. The Rhode Island Lobbying Reform Act, H7388, creates one set of rules for lobbying both the executive and legislative branches of state government. Additional changes include increases in fines, redefinitions of lobbying, lobbyists, and compensation, and allowing the Secretary of State to have subpoena power to investigate violations.

If passed, the law would take effect on January 1, 2017.