ELECTIONS -- SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES ACT, the official text

S2334 2026 -- S 2334 ======== LC003983 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES ACT Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Ciccone, Tikoian, LaMountain, Felag, Burke, Gu, Murray, Bissaillon, and Famiglietti Date Introduced: January 23, 2026 Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Title 17 of the General Laws entitled ELECTIONS is hereby amended by 2 adding thereto the following chapter: 3 CHAPTER 25.4 4 SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES 5 ACT 6 17-25.4-1. Title. 7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Safeguarding Election Candidates Using 8 Reasonable Expenditures Act. 9 17-25.4-2. Purpose. 10 The intent of this chapter is to authorize the use of campaign funds by candidates and 11 elected officials for security related expenses, including home and office security systems and 12 ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from public service or candidacy. 13 17-25.4-3. Definitions. 14 As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: 15 (1) Campaign funds means contributions received in support of a candidate or 16 officeholder regulated under this state s campaign finance law. 17 (2) Immediate family means a spouse, registered domestic partner, or any minor child 18 residing in the candidate/officeholder s household. 1 (3) Security expenses means: 2 (i) The purchase, installation, maintenance, and upgrade of physical security equipment 3 including, surveillance cameras, door access controls, locks, alarms, motion detectors installed by 4 a company authorized and licensed to perform such work in this state; and 5 (ii) Monitoring and other services, including maintenance, directly associated with such 6 physical security equipment. 7 17-25.4-4. Authorized and nonauthorized Uses. 8 (a) A candidate or elected official may use campaign funds/public funds for verified 9 security expenses incurred, to address security risks to themselves, campaign staff, or their 10 immediate family associated with their status or activities as a candidate or public figure. 11 (b) The maximum amount of campaign funds that may be used for physical security 12 equipment and its installation is limited to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per individual and 13 campaign cycle. 14 (c) Campaign funds may not be used for: 15 (1) Purchase of firearms or ammunition; 16 (2) Payments to family members or entities owned/controlled by them; or 17 (3) Unrelated home improvements. 18 17-25.4-5. Verification and documentation. 19 (a) The candidate or officeholder shall determine that the security expenses are reasonably 20 related to security risks to themselves and their immediate family. 21 (b) All such expenditures shall be: 22 (1) Reported to the state campaign finance agency in accordance with rules governing non- 23 campaign disbursements; 24 (2) Supported by itemized receipts or invoices; and 25 (3) Subject to public disclosure under applicable campaign finance laws; provided 26 however, the disclosure shall not include plans, designs or schematics. 27 (c) No documentation of a specific threat or law enforcement verification shall be required. 28 17-25.4-6. Rules and regulations. 29 The board of elections shall adopt rules and regulations as needed to implement and enforce 30 this chapter, including standardized reporting formats and audit procedures. 31 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003983 ======== LC003983 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES ACT *** 1 This act would authorize the use of campaign funds for security related expenses, including 2 home and office security systems and ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from their 3 public service or candidacy. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC003983 ======== LC003983 - Page 3 of 3