The proposed joint resolution seeks to amend the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island to grant the governor the authority to exercise a line item veto on budget bills and other legislation related to the appropriation of funds. This amendment would introduce new provisions that allow the governor to: (a) approve the bill as is; (b) reduce specific sums of money appropriated in the bill while approving other portions, with the stipulation that the reduced sums must be separately reconsidered by the General Assembly; or (c) disapprove one or more items or parts of items in the bill, which would not become law unless the General Assembly repasses the original version of those items. The amendment also includes specific limitations on how the governor may exercise this veto power, such as not creating new words or sentences by rejecting individual letters or combining parts of sentences. Additionally, if an item disapproved by the governor constitutes a condition on the use of appropriated funds, the corresponding sum shall not be reduced.

The resolution outlines the procedural steps for submitting this amendment to the electorate for approval during the next statewide general election. It mandates that the Secretary of State publish the proposed amendment in state newspapers and ensure it is included in the notices for town, ward, and district meetings, which will be conducted in accordance with existing laws governing elections for general officers, allowing voters to weigh in on the proposed changes to the governor's veto powers.