Removes corporate and dark-money spending from all Rhode Island elections and ballot questions.

Rhode Island Corporate Power Reset Act

This bill would prohibit corporations, certain associations, and other business entities from spending money to influence Rhode Island elections or ballot question campaigns. It would also target so-called "dark money" — funds donated to nonprofit or advocacy organizations that are then used for political purposes without clear public disclosure of where the money originally came from. Essentially, the bill aims to limit the role of organizational and corporate money in shaping election outcomes at the state level.

The legislation would affect a wide range of groups, including for-profit businesses, trade associations, and potentially some nonprofit organizations that engage in political spending. Individual Rhode Island citizens would still be able to contribute to and participate in elections under the bill's framework. Candidates, political parties, and campaigns would need to adjust how they raise and report funds if this bill becomes law.

Supporters of this type of legislation generally argue it increases transparency and reduces outside influence in elections, while critics often contend it restricts free speech rights. It is worth noting that similar laws have faced legal challenges in federal courts, particularly following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision, which broadly protected corporate political spending as free speech — meaning this bill, if passed, could face court challenges.

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, with a hearing scheduled for April 2026. It is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on.