Legislative Data Systems is the technological support agency of the Rhode Island General Assembly. The unit’s top priority is to assist all legislative members with their technological needs. It is the mission of Legislative Data to provide timely and accurate information to support the legislative decision-making process. It is also mandated (R.I. Public Laws Chapter 377, 1994) that Legislative Data publish and provide this information to the legislative community at large.

This unit also maintains the General Assembly’s web site (http://www.rilegislature.gov) which provides the general public with substantial and timely information relating to all aspects of the legislative process. Through the web site, Legislative Data makes available: bill text from the past and present, Public Laws from the past and present, Rhode Island General Laws and the State Constitution, Senate and House calendars, Senate and House journals, committee agendas, calendars and memberships, profiles of elected members with individual biographical web pages, search engines allowing users to locate legislation, press releases, e-mail for Representatives and Senators, a student and teacher guide and an online State House tour.

Having implemented a transformation of the General Assembly to a paperless bill system by equipping each legislator’s desk with a computer and access to the legislative web site, Legislative Data Systems coordinates this paperless bill system and provides hands-on assistance to legislators during formal sessions.