Budget & Taxes (Sales Tax)

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

Track

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

Track

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

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 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

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