Under the Dome: News from the State House

​Last Week at the State House
 
All of the bills featured in last week’s edition of UTD were held for further study.  The Attorney General did appear to testify on behalf of H.7677 that declares the failure to pay employees properly or on time, a felony.  The Chamber testified in opposition to the bill.  S.2861 which creates a new, almost impossible, test for independent contractors, had a number of business organizations testifying in opposition – including the Chamber.  The testimony from the business community was well-received, with little support from proponents.
 
 
This Week at the State House
 
As was reported previously in UTD, this week is legislative break week.  Phase two of the legislative session has come to an end which means many of the bills have had hearings in committee. The Chamber is currently tracking 327 bills.  Approximately two thirds have had hearings at this time.  The last phase of session includes hearings, passage of bills, and the passage of two budgets – the federal funding spending package, and the FY2023 state budget.
 
The Revenue Estimating Conference agenda was released.  This will be the last estimation of the available revenues and anticipated spending for the current fiscal year; and provides the basis for the creation of the FY2023 budget. 
 
Monday, April 25, 2022 – Caseload Estimating

• 9:00 AM Cash Assistance Caseload- Department of Human Services
• 1:00 PM Services for Private Community Developmentally Disabled Caseload (DD Caseload) - Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals Medical Caseload – Executive Office of Health and Human Services

 
Friday, April 29, 2022 – Economic Overview and Testimony

• 9:00 AM US and RI Economic Forecasts – IHS Markit Michael Lynch, Economist RI Labor Market Conditions-Department of Labor and Training Donna Murray, Assistant Director, Labor Market Information Unit Consensus Economic Forecast
• 10:30 AM Lottery Receipts - Department of Revenue, Division of Lottery Mark Furcolo, Director, Division of Lottery Commerce Corporation Tax Credits – RI Commerce Corporation Hilary Fagan, President, RI Commerce Corporation
• 2:00 PM Cash Assistance, DD Caseload, and Medical Caseload –Follow-up testimony (if necessary)* Department of Human Services; Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals; and, Executive Office of Health and Human Services

 
Wednesday, May 4, 2022

• 1:00 PM Tax Collections – Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation Neena Savage, State Tax Administrator Accruals – Accounts and Controls Dorothy Pascale, State Controller

 
Friday, May 6, 2022 - Caseload Estimating Conference and Revenue Testimony

• 9:00 AM Caseload Estimating Conference 2:00 PM Follow-Up- Tax Collections – Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation (if necessary)* Neena Savage, State Tax Administrator Monday,

 
May 9, 2022 – Final Revenue Estimating Conference

• 9:00 AM Revenue Estimating Conference

 
 
The following new bills were filed last week:
 
House Bill No. 8157  Tanzi, Cortvriend, Kislak, Potter, Giraldo, Felix, Baginski, McGaw, Messier, Kazarian, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE (Increases in-network behavioral health care service reimbursement rates up to the median value effective 1/1/2023. Increases rates for 2024-2028 by rate of inflation plus three (3) percentage points determined by federal CPI.)
H8157.pdf (state.ri.us)
 
House Bill No. 8158  Kennedy, Morales, Diaz, McEntee, Azzinaro, Edwards, Casimiro, Kazarian, Serpa, Ackerman, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES (Caps amount payable for 30 day supply of equipment/supplies for insulin administration/glucose monitoring at $25 or equipment designed to last more than 30 days with no deductible commencing January 1, 2023.)  webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText22/HouseText22/H8158.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2883  Seveney, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (Establishes a program to increase the adoption of broadband services for local and statewide entities, both public and private, to be funded by federal funds and state appropriations.)  webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText22/SenateText22/S2883.pdf