Advocacy in Action: April 20, 2026

This Week at the State House
 
The General Assembly is observing spring recess this week (April 20-25).  Legislative hearings will resume April 28th.  To date, 2700 bills have been introduced.  The Chamber is actively tracking 232 bills covering issues such as: labor, taxes, energy, environment, licensing, technology in the workplace, etc.  The legislature hopes to finish its work mid to late June.
  
May Revenue Estimating Conference  (REC) Schedule Released
 
Each year the budget staffs for the Governor, House and Senate meet to hash out the revenue and caseload numbers to be used in the drafting of the final version of the state budget beginning July 1.  The meetings are open to the public and can be watched on Capitol TV. https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/  The schedule was posted as follows:
 
Monday April 27, 2026
 
9:00 A.M. Cash Assistance Caseload
 
1:00 P.M. Medical Caseload
 
Wednesday April 29, 2026 – Economic Overview and Testimony
 
9:00 A.M.       US and RI Economic Forecasts by Moody’s Analytics
RI Labor Market Conditions by the Department of Labor and Training Consensus Economic Forecast (the REC adopts economic assumptions)
 
10:30 A.M.     Commerce Corporation Tax Credits
RI Commerce Corporation Lottery Receipts
Division of Lottery
Motion Picture Production Tax Credits
 
Monday May 4, 2026 – Caseload Estimate
 
9:00 A.M. Caseload Estimating Conference (REC adopts expense numbers assuming current law)
 
May 4, 2026 – Testimony
 
2:00 P.M. Tax Collections
 
Taxation Friday, May 8, 2026 – Revenue Estimate
 
9:00 A.M. Revenue Estimating Conference (This meeting is a day-long meeting.  The   conferees will adopt revenue numbers to be used in the budget assuming only current law)
 
The May REC is extremely important to the budget process. In the weeks following the REC, lawmakers will use these revenue and caseload numbers to determine policy.  If they wish to cut programs, they use the REC numbers to determine how much money will be saved or used in other ways.  If lawmakers wish to spend more than the revenues provide, then new sources of revenue will be considered to make up the projected deficit. 
 
 New Introductions
 
Senate Bill No. 3212 (Secretary of State)  Britto, McKenney, Burke, Murray, DiPalma, Felag, LaMountain, DiMario, AN ACT RELATING TO UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE -- SECURED TRANSACTIONS (Makes a series of amendments and adds new provisions of law to address business identity theft and deceptive solicitations sent to businesses and the unauthorized formation of entities.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3212.pdf


House Bill No. 8450  Newberry, Shekarchi, Finkelman, Chippendale, Marszalkowski, Slater, Phillips, Brien, Santucci, Solomon, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT -- THE RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CLIMATE REFORM ACT (Adopts several concepts from other jurisdictions with the goal of promoting a stronger climate for business growth in Rhode Island, including a "Franchise Fee" in lieu of the corporation tax.)  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8450.pdf