Techniques for determining reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) operation for RIS-assisted position determination of a mobile device in a wireless communications system, according to this disclosure, may comprise determining, for one or more RISs, whether the mobile device is within a near-field operational distance of the RIS based at least in part on a determined near-field operational distance of the RIS, and a relative distance between the mobile device and the RIS. Techniques may also comprise determining an RIS-assisted position of the mobile device based on measurements made by the mobile device of radio frequency (RF) signals reflected from at least one RIS of the one or more RISs. Techniques may also comprise providing the determined RIS-assisted position of the mobile device.