News for Political

This Week At the State House   We are awaiting the posting of the FY2026 budget in the House Finance Committee. The Committee is hoping to take it up this week for a vote. If that happens, the full House will debate and vote on the budget seven days later in accordance with the House rules. Meanwhile other committees are busy passing amended forms of bills that were heard over the last five ...read more

Revenue Estimating Conference Adopts Final Numbers   The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) completed its work Friday afternoon after six hours of debate. For FY25, the conferees adopted revenues of $5.6176 billion which is $61 million more than anticipated during the November 2024 REC. Personal Income Tax collection accounted for $37.1 million of the addition revenue, showing Rhode Island ...read more

Revenue Estimating Conference Continues This Week   Each year the fiscal staffs of the House, Senate and Governor meet in the Spring to debate and reach consensus on the State’s fixed expenses as well as revenues for the upcoming year.   Last Friday, the twice a year conference of budget officials convened and heard testimony on Caseloads for Cash Assistance, Services for Private Community ...read more

This Week At the State House     The legislature is observing Spring Recess this week and will return April 22nd.     Last Week At the State House   Two bills passed the Senate Labor & Gaming Committee last week:   S.126 Sub A passed the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee and the Senate floor (30-4). Following on a National Labor Relations Board decision in November that deemed unlawful ...read more

This Week At the State House Wednesday, March 26 Unemployment Benefits The Senate Committee on Labor & Gaming (4:30 p.m. in Room 212) will be considering the removal of a sunset provision in the unemployment benefit arena. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly and Governor increased the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant could receive before being ...read more

This Week At the State House   Tuesday, March 4th 3:00 p.m.   RI Utility and Energy Programs Presentation   Anyone in the hallways of the state house knows that energy prices are a hot topic. As recent electric and heating bills are arriving in consumers’ mailboxes, legislators are receiving emails and phone calls from constituents. About 51% of the residential electric bill reflects the ...read more

Legislative Break Week   The General Assembly is observing the annual February legislative break this week.     Next Week At the State House – Finance Committee Hearings   Most hearings for the week of February 25 – 27 will be posted this week. However, the House Finance Committee has provided extra preparation time for a few hearings by posting them last Friday. The information provided ...read more

This Week At the State House   Tuesday, February 4th   Retail Holiday Requirements for Juneteenth   The House Corporations Committee, in Room 135 At the Rise (approximately 4:30 p.m.) will hear H.5250, An Act Relating to Businesses and Professions – Holiday Business. The bill adds Juneteenth National Freedom Day to the holiday requirements for retail establishments. In 2023, the General ...read more

Governor McKee Unveils Budget   The Governor released his budget January 16th. Over the next few editions of Advocacy in Action, we will share summaries of the various Articles of interest to the business community. The $14.2 billion budget includes program cuts, as well as targeted taxes and fees in an effort to deal with annual anticipated increased revenues of 2.5% coupled with increasing ...read more

Last Week At the State House   Revenue Estimating Conference – The Numbers Are In   The conferees completed their estimates during a seven-hour meeting Friday. The bottom line – in FY2024, total taxes are up $26.8 million with general revenues up $47.7 million. For FY2025, taxes are estimated to be $10.2 million more than originally thought, with general revenues up only $9.7 million more ...read more

Legislative Break April 15 – 20   The General Assembly is on vacation break this week. They will return April 23rd for the third phase of the session. This last phase is marked with the development and passage of the final budget which should take place in June. The House and Senate Finance Committees have almost completed hearings on the Governor’s proposed budget. They will now wait for the ...read more