Permits grand juries to issue reports and provides for a process for review and acceptance by the superior court for dissemination to the public.

Rhode Island Grand Jury Reports Bill

This bill would give Rhode Island grand juries the ability to issue written reports to the public. Currently, grand juries in Rhode Island are primarily used to decide whether there is enough evidence to formally charge someone with a crime. This bill would expand their role to allow them to also publish findings and observations about matters they investigate — similar to how grand juries function in many other states.

Before any grand jury report could be released to the public, it would first go through a review process involving the Superior Court. A judge would examine the report to ensure it meets certain standards before officially accepting it for public release. This review step is designed to provide a check on what gets published, helping to protect individuals from potentially unfair or inaccurate statements while still allowing important findings to reach the public.

This bill would affect several groups of people. Rhode Island residents would gain greater access to information about matters investigated by grand juries, which could include government operations, public safety issues, or other community concerns. Public officials or organizations mentioned in grand jury reports could be impacted by the findings made public. The Superior Court would take on a new oversight responsibility under this process.

The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study. A hearing is scheduled for March 2026, meaning lawmakers are still considering whether and how to move it forward.