Rhode Island § 43-2-5 - Publication and Distribution of Acts

Full text of Rhode Island Rhode Island General Laws § 43-2-5 — Publication and Distribution of Acts, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 43-2-5. Publication and Distribution of Acts

R.I. Gen. Laws § 43-2-5

§ 43-2-5. Distribution of copies of proceedings.

The joint committee on legislative services shall, as soon as possible after publication of the public laws, acts of a local and private nature, and resolutions as provided in § 22-11-3.3, transmit bound copies to each of the following officers, libraries, or societies. The copies shall be transmitted by the recipients to their successors in office:

(1) One copy each to the governor, lieutenant governor, justices of the supreme, superior, family and district courts, general treasurer, state controller, the director of each state department, administrator of the division of public utilities and carriers, tax administrator, director of business regulation, the several town and city clerks, the several boards of canvassers and registration, the several probate courts where the clerk of the court is other than the city or town clerk, the several clerks or administrators of the supreme, superior, family and district courts, reporter of opinions of the supreme court, the several sheriffs, adjutant general, state judge advocate general, the division of occupational safety, the library of any accredited institution of higher education in the state of Rhode Island, Redwood Library and Athenaeum, the People’s Library, Newport, Providence Athenaeum, Providence Public Library, Pawtucket Free Public Library, any other incorporated library in the state or any library in the state receiving state aid that may apply for a copy, the social law library at Boston, Massachusetts, the New York Public Library, in New York, the library of the Worcester County Bar Association, Massachusetts, the library of the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, the library at Cornell University, New York, the law schools at Cambridge and Boston in Massachusetts, at New York and at Albany in New York, at New Haven in Connecticut, the library of the University of West Virginia, in West Virginia, the bar library in Chicago, in Illinois, the library of the law school of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the state libraries of the several states, the senate committees on judiciary, finance and commerce, housing and municipal government, the house of representatives committees on judiciary, finance and corporations, the legislative council and the house of representatives finance committee advisory staff, each member of the general assembly, the associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States assigned to the First Circuit, each district judge of the United States for the District of Rhode Island, the United States district attorney for the District of Rhode Island, the United States Marshal, the referee in bankruptcy for the District of Rhode Island, and the clerk of the United States District Court;

(2) Four (4) copies to the Secretary of State of the United States;

(3) Two (2) copies each to the state library, the state law library, the secretary of state, the attorney general, the public defender, the Legal Aid Society of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Historical Society, the Newport Historical Society, and the Warden’s Court at New Shoreham.

(4) The secretary of state shall keep two (2) copies for the use of his or her office.

History of Section.
G.L. 1896, ch. 22, §§ 5-7; P.L. 1901, ch. 832, § 1; C.P.A. 1905, §§ 1218, 1219; G.L. 1909, ch. 28, §§ 5-7; P.L. 1910, ch. 541, § 1; P.L. 1921, ch. 2050, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch. 28, § 5; G.L. 1938, ch. 307, § 5; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660, § 65; P.L. 1944, ch. 1457, § 1; impl. am. P.L. 1951 (s.s.), ch. 2870, § 18; impl. am. P.L. 1952, ch. 2973, §§ 2, 4; impl. am. P.L. 1956, ch. 3742, par. 16; G.L. 1956, § 43-2-5; P.L. 1958, ch. 4, § 1; P.L. 1960, ch. 6, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 522, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 410, § 25; P.L. 2010, ch. 239, § 36.

Source: official Rhode Island text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Rhode Island § 43-2-5

What does Rhode Island General Laws § 43-2-5 cover?

Section 43-2-5 ("Publication and Distribution of Acts") is part of the Rhode Island General Laws, the codified statutory law of Rhode Island. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Rhode Island § 43-2-5?

A common citation format is "Rhode Island General Laws § 43-2-5" (Rhode Island). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Rhode Island law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Rhode Island official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Rhode Island attorney.

How does Rhode Island § 43-2-5 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Rhode Island can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Rhode Island.