R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-1 (2026)

Public policy

✓ current as of July 2026
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It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance of public officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Tanner v. Town Council of Town of East Greenwich, 880 A.2d 784 (R.I. 2005).
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Tanner v. Town Council of Town of East Greenwich, 880 A.2d 784 (R.I. 2005). · cites it 7× “” Section 42-46-1. The plain language of this chapter clearly demonstrates that the purpose of the OMA is to protect the public’s right to participate in the political process, and not an individual’s property or contract rights.”
Cranston Police Retirees Action Comm. v. The City of Cranston, by & through its Fin. Dir. Robert Strom & its City Treasurer David Capuano, 208 A.3d 557 (R.I. 2019). · cites it 3× “" Section 42-46-1. Indeed, we have stated: "[T]he purpose of the OMA is to protect the public's right to participate in the political process, and not an individual's property or contract rights.”
Belcher v. Mansi, 569 F. Supp. 379 (D.R.I. 1983). · cites it 5× “R.I.Gen.Laws § 42-46-1. Although there are no reported Rhode Island cases interpreting this provision of the statute, the plain language of the law itself betokens that two salient First Amendment values — the public’s right to know and the accountability of public institutions…”
Solas v. Emergency Hiring Council, 774 A.2d 820 (R.I. 2001). · cites it 2× “” Section 42-46-1. As noted by the trial justice, other jurisdictions have enacted open meeting or “sunshine” laws for the public interest to protect the public from “closed door” politics; and, as such, these enactments should be broadly construed and interpreted in the light…”
Cullen v. Lincoln Town Council, 960 A.2d 246 (R.I. 2008). · cites it 2× “To effectuate this purpose, the act requires that “[a]ll public bodies shall give written notice of their regularly scheduled meetings at the beginning of each calendar year,” § 42-46-6(a), and shall also give “supplemental written public notice of any meeting within a minimum…”
Smithfield Concerned Citizens for Fair Zoning v. Town of Smithfield Ex Rel. Rainville, 719 F. Supp. 75 (D.R.I. 1989). · cites it 2× “(a) State Law Violations The allegations that, in enacting the Ordinance, the Council did not comply with the notice and/or open meetings requirements of R.I.Gen.Laws §§ 42-46-1 and 45-24-4 (1988) do not require protracted discussion.”
Duffy v. Quattrocchi, 576 F. Supp. 336 (D.R.I. 1983). · cites it 2× “The public policy of that Act is articulated in R.I.Gen. Laws § 42-46-1: It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be advised of and aware of the performance of public officials…”
D'Ambra v. City of Providence, 21 F. Supp. 2d 106 (D.R.I. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 1983 , alleging violations of the First Amendment, the procedural due process and takings clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, substantive due process, and the state Open Meetings Law, R.I.Gen.Laws § 42-46-1 et seq. (1993). , This case is now before the Court on…”
Paul E. Pontarelli v. Rhode Island Bd. Council on Elementary & Secondary Educ., 151 A.3d 301 (R.I. 2016). · cites it 2× “” Section 42-46-1. The OMA requires, with some exceptions not pertinent to this appeal, that “[ejvery meeting of all public bodies * * * be open to the public.”
Csorny v. Shoreham-Wading River Cent. Sch. Dist., 305 A.D.2d 83 (N.Y. App. Div. 2003). “Significantly, the Rhode Island statute opened with a Legislative declaration much like that of New York’s, broadly hailing that “[i]t is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and public manner” (RI Gen Laws § 42-46-1;…”
Roberts v. City of Cranston Zoning Bd. of Review, 448 A.2d 779 (R.I. 1982). “1956 (1977 Reenactment) §§ 42-46-1 through 42-46-10. The case presents for the first time the question of whether or not that chapter applies to quasi-judicial proceedings.”
Sheila Anolik v. Zoning Bd. of Review of the City of Newport, 64 A.3d 1171 (R.I. 2013). · cites it 2× “” Section 42-46-1. We have previously expressly stated that the provisions of the Open Meetings Act “should be broadly construed and interpreted in the light most favorable to public access to achieve their remedial and protective purpose.”
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