Budget & Taxes (Sales Tax)

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7399: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

HB 7399 removes pet care services (like grooming or boarding) from the list of taxable services under the state's sales tax code. This change means pet care businesses will no longer have to collect sales tax on these services, directly affecting them and their customers. The bill specifically repeals the tax classification for pet care services as defined in sections 44-18-7(19) and 44-18-7.3(b)(3) of the tax code. It is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been introduced on January 28, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves sales tax on pet care services, providing tax relief to businesses and customers, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2346: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE CORPORATION

SB 2346 creates tax exemptions for property, tangible personal property, sales, and use taxes to incentivize the development of qualified data centers in Rhode Island. It directly affects data center developers and operators who meet the bill's criteria, including those making eligible costs for construction, equipment, and site development. The key provision allows qualifying data center projects to avoid these taxes on specific expenses like land, buildings, equipment, and labor costs related to construction. This policy aims to attract data center investments by reducing development costs for businesses meeting the defined standards. The bill modifies existing law governing the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to implement these tax incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax exemptions for data center developers, providing targeted tax relief as a fiscal policy action within Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTax exemptions incentivize data center development, directly supporting technology infrastructure investment and attracting tech industry growth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2082: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 2082 phases out Rhode Island's local 1% meals and beverage tax, which currently applies to food and drinks purchased at restaurants, bars, and similar establishments. The tax will be reduced by 0.25% annually starting January 1, 2027, and will be completely eliminated by January 1, 2030. This change directly affects restaurants, bars, and consumers who pay the tax on meals and beverages. The bill modifies existing tax law to implement this gradual reduction through annual adjustments, with no further tax collected after 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPhases out a local 1% meals tax (reducing burden on consumers/businesses), providing direct tax relief per budget/tax policy indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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signed · Rhode Island · House May 6, 2026

HB 7151: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

HB 7151 allows the town of Jamestown to create a new property tax exemption program for seniors aged 65+ who own and occupy their primary residence. The bill establishes income-based exemption tiers (ranging from 10% to 60% of property value) based on household income relative to federal poverty guidelines, with strict residency requirements (5 years in Jamestown). It explicitly excludes income-producing properties (like home offices or rental units) and requires applicants to provide income documentation. This bill directly affects eligible Jamestown seniors meeting the income, residency, and property-use criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income-based property tax exemptions for low-income seniors, providing tax relief and reducing their tax burden per federal poverty guidelines.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides property tax relief for seniors (65+) on primary residences, reducing housing costs through income-based exemptions under federal poverty guidelines.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Sales Tax Tax Incentives Property Taxes

died · Rhode Island · House May 12, 2026

HB 7057: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

Gradually phases in modifications to federal adjusted gross income over a five (5) year period for social security income, from twenty percent (20%) up to one hundred percent (100%), beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax exemption for social security income, providing relief to recipients (typically lower/middle income) by reducing state tax burden over time.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Sales Tax

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 2231: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 2231 exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing 14,000 pounds or less from sales and use taxes. This means when a customer trades in a qualifying pickup truck toward a new vehicle purchase, the trade-in value is excluded from the taxable amount for the new vehicle. The bill directly affects car dealers and consumers involved in such trade-in transactions, reducing the tax burden on the new vehicle purchase. The exemption applies specifically to the trade-in value portion of the transaction, not the full purchase price.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts trade-in value from sales tax, reducing tax burden on vehicle purchases as tax relief for consumers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 7396: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX -- AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT ACT

Creates an affordable housing business tax credit as well as eliminate sales tax on any materials purchased for use in the renovation of affordable rental housing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates business tax credit and eliminates sales tax on affordable housing renovation materials, providing tax relief for housing affordability programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates affordable housing tax credit and eliminates sales tax on renovation materials, directly advancing affordable housing development per bill title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Renters

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died · Rhode Island · House May 7, 2026

HB 7058: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

HB 7058 exempts scalp hair prostheses and wigs necessary due to medical conditions from the state's sales tax. This directly affects individuals experiencing hair loss from medical issues, such as cancer treatment or alopecia, who purchase these items. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly include these prosthetic devices under existing medical exemptions, removing the sales tax burden. This is a concrete policy change that simplifies access to medically necessary hair replacement products without altering broader tax structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts medically necessary hair prostheses from sales tax, providing targeted tax relief to individuals with medical conditions, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts medically necessary hair prosthetics from sales tax, reducing financial barriers for patients with conditions like cancer treatment or alopecia.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SB 2243: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

Exempts from the sales tax eligible school supplies, costing less than $30.00, purchased within one week prior to the commencement of the academic year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts school supplies under $30 from sales tax, providing direct tax relief for families purchasing essential items.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts school supplies under $30 from sales tax, reducing costs for families and improving access to educational materials for K-12 students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax State Budget

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 2244: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 2244 exempts behind-the-meter batteries connected to solar photovoltaic systems from Rhode Island's sales tax. This directly affects homeowners and businesses installing solar energy systems with battery storage, reducing their upfront costs. The bill amends tax law to add these battery systems to the list of exempt items under sales tax rules, specifically clarifying that batteries used to store solar energy for on-site use are not taxable. The change aims to lower costs for solar adoption without altering existing tax exemptions for other items like newspapers or school meals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts solar battery storage from sales tax, providing direct tax relief to homeowners/businesses and lowering solar adoption costs per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts solar battery storage from sales tax, lowering costs for renewable energy adoption. Directly advances clean energy infrastructure by reducing upfront costs for solar systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Energy Storage Solar

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