Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2026

HB 7703: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAX

HB 7703 suspends the 4% gross earnings tax on electric and gas utility companies until January 1, 2036. This directly affects corporations primarily engaged in electricity generation/sale or gas distribution, reducing their tax burden during this period. The bill amends tax law to temporarily halt this specific 4% tax rate (previously applied to electricity/gas companies) starting January 1, 2027. The suspension covers all gross earnings from these core utility services, excluding related deductions for wholesale sales. The policy change provides a fixed tax relief period without altering other tax rates for telecommunications or other sectors.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill suspends 4% utility tax, reducing state revenue and weakening tax collection for budget purposes per explicit tax suspension language.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 7505: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND NEW QUALIFIED JOBS INCENTIVE ACT 2015

HB 7505 ends Rhode Island's Jobs Development Act tax incentive program by July 1, 2026. It stops all new rate reductions for companies after June 30, 2026, and requires existing beneficiaries who qualified before July 1, 2015, to maintain their current tax rate until the program's end date. The bill does not affect companies that already secured benefits before the 2015 cutoff date, but no new companies can qualify for the tax rate reductions after 2026. This is a straightforward sunset provision for the state's job creation tax incentive program.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEnds tax incentive program, restricting future tax breaks for companies, limiting fiscal incentives per bill's sunset provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SB 2703: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL

Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits property tax increases for municipalities with rent control, restricting local government revenue during rent control periods.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prohibits property tax hikes on rent-controlled properties, enabling cities to maintain tenant protections without financial disincentives for rent control ordinances.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax Property Taxes Renters Tenant Rights

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 2541: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

SB 2541 repeals the legal authority allowing the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to collect tolls on state roads and bridges. This directly affects the Authority and drivers using the Newport Bridge, Mount Hope Bridge, Sakonnet River Bridge, Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge, and the turnpike. The bill removes the provision that permitted the Authority to "fix and revise... tolls for transit" over these facilities, ending the legal basis for toll collection. The change would require the Authority to operate these infrastructure projects without toll revenue, shifting funding mechanisms. No new tolls or changes to existing toll rates are involved - only the repeal of the underlying authorization.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill repeals legal authority for toll collection on state bridges/turnpike, ending a dedicated revenue source for infrastructure funding, directly restricting a tax-based budget stream.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationBill repeals toll collection authority for state bridges/turnpike, eliminating a key funding source for transportation infrastructure, directly reducing financial support for these facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 2544: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAX

SB 2544 suspends the 4% gross earnings tax on electric utility companies and the 3% tax on gas utility companies until January 1, 2036. This directly affects electric and gas utility corporations operating in the state by removing these tax obligations for nearly a decade. The bill amends tax code provisions to halt these specific tax rates, which would otherwise apply to their gross earnings from electricity and gas services. The suspension begins January 1, 2027, and remains in effect through 2035.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesSuspends 4% electric and 3% gas utility taxes, reducing state revenue and weakening fiscal management by exempting corporations from tax obligations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 2624: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND NEW QUALIFIED JOBS INCENTIVE ACT 2015

SB 2624 discontinues Rhode Island's Jobs Development Act tax rate reductions by July 1, 2026. It ensures companies that qualified for rate reductions under the program before July 1, 2015, can maintain their existing rates through June 30, 2026, but no new rate reductions or credits will be authorized after June 30, 2026. The bill directly affects businesses participating in the state's qualified jobs tax incentive program. It ends future eligibility for the tax rate reductions while preserving existing benefits for qualifying companies. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill terminates future tax rate reductions for new businesses under the incentive program, restricting tax incentives and ending new eligibility for tax breaks.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 19, 2026

SB 2540: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM

Establishes a new program where the per pupil funding, calculated annually by RIDE, would be transferred into a newly created educational funding account run by the children's scholarship fund to pay for educational expenses.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRedirects per-pupil funding to private scholarship accounts, defunding public education programs80% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRedirects per-pupil public funding to private scholarship accounts, diverting resources from public schools and weakening traditional public education funding streams.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 7464: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Prohibits RIPTA from using state funds or the proceeds of any bond(s) to pay for any work performed after 8/1/26, pursuant to the “transit center joint development project” RFP and/or pursuant to related the preliminary services agreement.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits RIPTA from using state funds/bonds for project work after 8/1/26, restricting government spending on this specific initiative.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationProhibits state funds/bonds for RIPTA transit project after 8/1/26, defunding a specific transportation initiative per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 7177: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MORATORIUM ON NET METERING, LONG-TERM CONTRACTS AND SUBSIDIES FOR HEAT PUMPS

HB 7177 places a moratorium on new or renewed net metering contracts (which allow solar power customers to sell excess electricity back to the grid), long-term contracts (over five years) for purchasing solar or wind energy, and state subsidies for heat pump installations. This bill directly affects residential solar customers, utilities, and homeowners seeking heat pump incentives by prohibiting these programs starting January 1, 2027. Key provisions ban state-funded heat pump subsidies, prevent new solar/wind energy procurement contracts exceeding five years, and halt all new net metering agreements under state law. The law suspends these specific energy programs without altering broader renewable energy policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill bans state subsidies for heat pumps and prohibits new renewable energy contracts, directly defunding these programs under fiscal management.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBans net metering, solar/wind long-term contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting renewable energy adoption programs.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBans solar net metering, long-term renewable contracts, and heat pump subsidies - directly restricting clean energy adoption and conservation incentives.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits state subsidies and new net metering contracts for solar/heat pump technology, restricting renewable energy adoption and funding for these tech solutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Renewable Energy Solar Wind

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7415: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bars the council from granting approval to create or expand a charter school beginning operations in 26-27 school year and bars the state from approving or appropriating funds to a new charter school not approved before July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBars state from appropriating funds to new charter schools, restricting budget allocation for expansion per bill's explicit language on funding restrictions.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly restricts new charter school approvals and defunds expansion, limiting educational options and access per charter school provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice