Dechert LLP
One International Place, 40th Floor
100 Oliver Street
Boston, MA  02110-2605
+1  617  728  7100  Main
+1  617  426  6567  Fax
www.dechert.com

April 21, 2025

Fidelity Salem Street Trust

245 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02210

Re: Post-Effective Amendment No. 597 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Fidelity Salem Street Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the “Trust”) and its separate series Fidelity Intermediate Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity Long-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity SAI Intermediate Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity SAI Long-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity SAI Short-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity SAI U.S. Treasury Bond Index Fund, Fidelity Series Long-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund, and Fidelity Short-Term Treasury Bond Index Fund (the “Funds”), in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 597 to the Trust’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the “Amendment”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

In connection with the opinions set forth herein, you have provided to us originals, copies or facsimile transmissions of, and we have reviewed and relied upon, among other things, copies of the following: the Amendment; the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated May 16, 2001, as amended; the By-Laws of the Trust dated June 17, 2004; and other such Trust records, certificates, resolutions, documents and statutes that we have deemed relevant in order to render the opinion expressed herein. In addition, we have reviewed and relied upon a Certificate issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In rendering this opinion we have assumed, without independent verification, (i) the due authority of all individuals signing in representative capacities and the genuineness of signatures; (ii) the authenticity, completeness and continued effectiveness of all documents or copies furnished to us; (iii) that any resolutions provided have been duly adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees;

(iv) that the facts contained in the instruments and certificates or statements of public officials, officers and representatives of the Trust on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion are true and correct; and (v) that no amendments, agreements, resolutions or actions have been approved, executed or adopted which would limit, supersede or modify the items described above.  Where documents are referred to in resolutions approved by the Board of Trustees, or in the Amendment, we have assumed such documents are the same as in the most recent form provided to us, whether as an exhibit to the Amendment or otherwise. When any opinion set forth below relates to the existence or standing of the Trust, such opinion is based entirely upon and is limited by the items referred to above, and we understand that the foregoing assumptions, limitations and qualifications are acceptable to you.

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Funds’ shares registered under the Securities Act, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms of purchase described in the Amendment, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinion expressed herein is given as of the date hereof and we undertake no obligation and hereby disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change after the date of this opinion pertaining to any matter referred to herein.  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Amendment and to the use of our name in the Amendment unless and until we revoke such consent.  In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Dechert LLP