Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7986 2026 -- H 7986 ======== LC004305 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- ORGANIZATION AND COMMAND OF MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES Introduced By: Representative David J. Place Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 30-2 of the General Laws entitled Organization and Command of 2 Military and Naval Forces is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 30-2-10.1. Official declaration of war required to deploy. 4 Notwithstanding any other provision of the general laws, the Rhode Island National Guard 5 and any member thereof shall not be released from the state into active duty combat unless the 6 United States Congress has passed an official declaration of war pursuant to Article 1, Section 8, 7 Clause 11 of the United States Constitution or has taken an official action pursuant to Article 1, 8 Section 8, Clause 15 of the United States Constitution to explicitly call forth the Rhode Island 9 National Guard and any member thereof for the enumerated purposes to expressly execute the laws 10 of the union, repel an invasion or suppress an insurrection. The governor shall take all actions 11 necessary to comply with the requirements of this section. 12 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004305 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- ORGANIZATION AND COMMAND OF MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES *** 1 This act would require an official declaration of war or an action to call forth the state 2 militia by the United States Congress pursuant to Article 1, Section 8, Clauses 11 and 15 of the 3 United States Constitution before members of the National Guard may be released from state 4 control to participate in active duty combat. 5 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004305 ======== LC004305 - Page 2 of 2
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