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.
S2196 2026 -- S 2196 ======== LC004197 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DIGITAL ASSET KEYS-- PROHIBITION OF PRODUCTION OF PRIVATE KEYS Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Gu, Burke, Urso, Paolino, and Zurier Date Introduced: January 23, 2026 Referred To: Senate Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Tech It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 42 of the General Laws entitled STATE AFFAIRS AND 2 GOVERNMENT is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 64.35 4 DIGITAL ASSET KEYS -- PROHIBITION OF PRODUCTION OF PRIVATE KEYS 5 42-64.35-1. Short title. 6 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Digital Asset Keys -- Prohibition of 7 Production of Private Keys. 8 42-64.35-2. Purpose. 9 This chapter prohibits the compelled production of a private key that relates to a digital 10 asset, except as provided in § 42-64.35-4. 11 42-64.35-3. Definitions. 12 As used in this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, 13 unless the context otherwise requires: 14 (1) Private key means a unique element of cryptographic data, or any substantially similar 15 analogue, which is: 16 (i) Held by a person; 17 (ii) Paired with a unique, publicly available element of cryptographic data; and 18 (iii) Associated with an algorithm that is necessary to carry out an encryption or decryption 1 required to execute a transaction. 2 42-64.35-4. Public key exception. 3 No person shall be compelled to produce a private key or make a private key known to any 4 other person in any civil, criminal, administrative, legislative or other proceeding in this state that 5 relates to a digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right to which the private key provides 6 access, unless a public key is unavailable or unable to disclose the requisite information with 7 respect to the digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right. 8 42-64.35-5. No prohibition for lawful proceeding. 9 This section shall not be interpreted to prohibit any lawful proceeding that compels a 10 person to produce, sell, transfer, convey or disclose a digital asset, digital identity or other interest 11 or right to which a private key provides access, or to disclose information about the digital asset, 12 digital identity or other interest or right; provided that, the person is not required to produce or 13 disclose the private key except as otherwise required in this chapter. 14 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004197 ======== LC004197 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DIGITAL ASSET KEYS-- PROHIBITION OF PRODUCTION OF PRIVATE KEYS *** 1 This act would, with limited exception, prohibit the compelled production of a private key 2 as it relates to a digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right. 3 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004197 ======== LC004197 - Page 3 of 3
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