Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 7251: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE BUDGET

HB 7251 limits annual state spending growth to the higher of Rhode Island's inflation rate or personal income growth rate, whichever is greater. This directly affects the state budget process by capping how much total state spending can increase each year from the previous year's level. Exceptions include debt payments, federally mandated spending, and emergency expenditures approved by a two-thirds vote. The bill requires annual reporting on spending growth versus the limit and mandates the governor to create a reduction plan if the legislature exceeds the cap. It takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill caps annual state spending growth to inflation/personal income, restricting budget increases per fiscal responsibility measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget

Track

died · Rhode Island · House May 12, 2026

HB 7389: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO BILINGUAL EDUCATION ACT

Appropriates nine hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($950,000) to establish a bilingual education support fund within the department of elementary and secondary education and provides for implementation of support and access to bilingual education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $950,000 from state budget to fund bilingual education program, directly increasing public education funding allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $950,000 for bilingual education support fund, directly advancing educational access and funding for K-12 programs as per bill title and summary.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds bilingual education, a key service for immigrant students' educational access, aligning with 'provides immigrant services' indicator.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

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

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2239: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax relief by allowing school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, reducing local tax burden and ensuring state funding for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school districts to opt out of unfunded mandates, preventing financial strain and promoting equitable resource allocation in education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7245: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE EDUCATION EQUITY AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

Amends State funding calculations for special education, revising extraordinary cost calculations for FY 2028-2029, and providing additional funds for excess costs when special education students move into a district after the budget is approved.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly provides property tax relief via education funding adjustments, directly aligning with tax relief indicators for support.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides additional funds for special education excess costs when students move districts, directly increasing K-12 school funding and addressing equity needs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding Special Education

Track

passed · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 2141: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES

SB 2141 increases the daily fee for jurors serving in Rhode Island's superior court from $25 to $50 per day, effective July 1, 2026. It directly affects all jurors summoned for grand or petit jury duty in superior court cases. The bill also allows jurors to voluntarily donate their daily fee to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center, with donations deposited into the state general fund. The change takes effect upon passage, with annual funding to be appropriated by the General Assembly.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases juror fees (from $25 to $50) and directs voluntary donations to state general fund, directly increasing state revenue for public services like Veterans Home.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill allows voluntary juror fee donations to Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center, directly funding veterans' housing/services through state general fund.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

signed · Rhode Island · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 7408: AN ACT RELATING TO MAKING REVISED APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2026 RELATING TO ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER AND OUR LADY OF FATIMA HOSPITAL

HB 7408 authorizes Rhode Island to set aside up to $18 million in a debt service reserve fund to support financing for the sale of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital to CharterCARE Health of Rhode Island, Inc. The bill creates a financial backup fund to enhance the creditworthiness of bonds used to purchase the hospitals, ensuring the sale process can proceed without state debt obligations. This funding mechanism directly supports the transfer of ownership to CharterCARE while preserving hospital services and approximately 2,700 jobs. The state’s contribution is limited to the reserve fund, with no obligation to replenish it, and any remaining funds would revert to the state budget. The bill focuses on enabling the hospital sale through bond financing, not altering hospital operations or patient care.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $18M debt service reserve fund for hospital sale financing, directly allocating state budget funds to support transaction without increasing state debt obligations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $18M reserve fund to facilitate hospital sale to CharterCARE, ensuring continued healthcare services and operational stability for public hospitals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds State Budget Hospitals

died · Rhode Island · House May 14, 2026

HR 7259: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK

HR 7259 is a joint resolution appropriating $3,000,000 from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Food Bank for fiscal year 2026-2027. It directly supports the Food Bank’s operations, which serve 137 member agencies across Rhode Island, as federal SNAP benefits for approximately 32,000 residents are set to decrease or end due to recent federal legislation. The resolution authorizes the state controller to fund the Food Bank as needed through vouchers, addressing increased demand for food assistance amid rising food insecurity. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and it applies solely to state budget allocation for the Food Bank.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M state funds to support food bank amid federal SNAP cuts, funding essential public service to address increased demand for food assistance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2028: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 2028 imposes a tiered sales tax on digital advertising services sold within Rhode Island, affecting large digital advertising companies based on their global revenue (2.5% for $100M-$1B revenue, 5% for $1B-$5B, 7.5% for $5B-$15B). The tax revenue will be distributed annually to specific state funds: 10% to public transit (RIPTA), 15% to climate resiliency, 5% to university research, 20% to housing, 10% to school lunches, 20% to municipal resilience, and 20% to the general fund. The tax applies to purchases of digital ads within Rhode Island and takes effect on July 1, 2026. It does not allow companies to add the tax as a separate fee on customer invoices but requires clear disclosure of the amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tiered tax on digital ads to fund public transit, housing, school lunches, and climate programs, directly allocating revenue to state priorities per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates 10% of tax revenue to school lunches, directly funding K-12 meal programs per bill's distribution formula.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAllocates 15% of tax revenue to climate resiliency, directly funding environmental protection initiatives per bill summary.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates 20% of tax revenue specifically to housing programs, directly funding housing initiatives without restrictions or opposition indicators.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates 10% of tax revenue to RIPTA (public transit), directly funding transportation infrastructure per bill summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax State Budget Higher Education Public Transit

Track