Provides that testimony submitted on behalf of state departments, agencies, boards or commissions would not be considered official unless authorized by the governor.

## Bill Summary

This bill would change the rules around how state government agencies communicate with the Rhode Island legislature. Specifically, it would require that any official testimony submitted by a state department, agency, board, or commission — meaning formal statements presented during legislative hearings — must first be authorized by the Governor. If that authorization isn't obtained, the testimony would not be considered "official" on behalf of the agency.

In practical terms, this means that individual agencies could not independently speak in an official capacity to lawmakers without the Governor's approval. For example, if the Department of Health or the Department of Education wanted to formally weigh in on a piece of legislation, their testimony would only carry official weight if the Governor had signed off on it first. This would give the Governor's office a greater degree of control over the messages and positions that executive branch agencies communicate to the legislature.

This bill primarily affects state employees and agency leaders who regularly testify before legislative committees, as well as lawmakers who rely on that expert input when crafting laws. It could also affect the public indirectly, since agency testimony often provides technical information that shapes policy decisions. Supporters of this type of measure might argue it creates a more coordinated executive branch, while critics might raise concerns about limiting independent agency expertise — though this bill simply changes the procedural process, not what agencies can ultimately say.

The bill was recently referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee and has been recommended to be held for further study, meaning no final vote has been taken yet.