Legislative Updates
April 22, 2025
Rhode Island Mourns the Loss of the Senate President Dominick Ruggerio
The business community mourns the loss of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio who lost his battle with cancer Monday, April 21, 2025. President Ruggerio was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the longest serving member of the Senate. He took the helm as President in 2017.
In 2022, President Ruggerio received the Chamber’s Barbara Burlingame Award, an award given to a Rhode Island elected official who made outstanding contributions to the business community. At that time Chamber President & CEO Liz Catucci praised the Senate President calling him a longtime supporter of the Chamber, demonstrating a willingness to work with the business community on significant legislation such as education reform, corporate taxation and economic development.
“This is a sad day for Rhode Island. Today the business community lost an advocate and a friend. I personally will miss my conversations with him, his laughter, and his ability to play blackjack at the annual Bally’s Holiday Charity Blackjack Tournament. Rest in Peace Mr. President; job well done.”
Revenue Estimating Conference Begins 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. This year’s process begins Friday, April 25th with the Caseload conference. The conference ends Friday, May 9th when the final numbers will be set and the race to complete a budget begins. Monday, April 28th may be of particular interest as the State’s economists will outline their forecast for the national economy and Rhode Island’s economy. Below is a full agenda of the meetings:
Friday April 25, 2025 – Testimony
9:00 A.M. Cash Assistance Caseload
Services for Private Community Developmentally Disabled Caseload
1:00 P.M. Medical Caseload Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Monday, April 28, 2025 – Economic Overview and Testimony
9:00 A.M. US and RI Economic Forecasts – Moody’s Analytics
RI Labor Market Conditions – Department of Labor and Training
Consensus Economic Forecast
10:30 A.M. Lottery Receipts - Department of Revenue, Division of Lottery
Commerce Corporation Tax Credits – RI Commerce Corporation
Monday May 5, 2025 – Caseload Estimates and Testimony
9:00 A.M. Caseload Estimating Conference
2:00 P.M. Tax Collections – Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation
Accruals – Department of Administration, Office of Accounts and Controls
Friday, May 9, 2025 – Revenue Estimates
9:00 A.M. Revenue Estimating Conference (this meeting is an all-day meeting)
To watch the Revenue Estimating Conference go to: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/
Meeting Materials will be made available on the General Assembly website at https://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/rcc/Pages/rcec.aspx or http://omb.ri.gov/REC
This Week At the State House
Thursday, April 24th
Gift Card Fraud
H.6212, An Act Relating to Commercial Law – Gift Card Fraud https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6212.pdf adds the crime of larceny to anyone that acquires or retains a gift card of less than $1,500 with the intent to use the card without the owner’s permission. A potential fine of up to $1,000 may also be assessed. Higher penalties exist for cards valued over $1,500 or for multiple violations in any six-month period. Testimony may be submitted at HouseJudiciary@rilegislature.gov
The following new bills have been filed:
Senate Bill No. 974 Lawson, Bissaillon, Tikoian, Lauria, DiMario, Euer, Urso, Felag, Murray, Gallo, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE --CONTRIBUTIONS (Increases the taxable wage base for TDI claims from $38,000 to $100,000 or the annual earnings needed by an individual to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit amount and the maximum duration under chapters 39 through 41 of this title.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0974.pdf
Senate Bill No. 984 Britto, McKenney, Dimitri, Ciccone, Felag, Murray, Patalano, Thompson, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEMP THC-INFUSED BEVERAGES ACT (Authorizes the sale of THC-infused beverages to be regulated by the DBR division of commercial licensing. It also establishes licensing and an endorsement process for wholesale and retail THC-infused beverages.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0984.pdf
Senate Bill No. 988 Appollonio, Acosta, Mack, Lauria, Kallman, Thompson, Dimitri, Urso, Vargas, Pearson, AN ACT RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- WORK ON HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS (Includes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday as a holiday.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0988.pdf
Senate Bill No. 991 (Lieutenant Governor) Britto, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- PROTECTING RHODE ISLANDERS FROM COERCIVE ECONOMIC TACTICS AT GROCERY STORES (Creates a new chapter to protect Rhode Island consumers from coercive tactics at grocery stores.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0991.pdf
House Bill No. 6205 Bennett, Voas, McEntee, Potter, Cruz, Morales, Cortvriend, Edwards, Speakman, Carson, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING AND PAPER ACT (Creates the extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper program for the recycling of packaging and paper products.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6205.pdf
House Bill No. 6206 Spears, McEntee, Bennett, Carson, Boylan, McGaw, Cortvriend, Donovan, Handy, Kazarian, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BEVERAGE CONTAINERS RECYCLING ACT (Establishes the Beverage Container Recycling Act)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6206.pdf
House Bill No. 6207 McEntee, Knight, Bennett, Boylan, Carson, McGaw, Cortvriend, Donovan, Handy, Kazarian, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY (Provides extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, recycling of beverage containers, and provides general provisions for oversight of single-stage producer organizations.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6207.pdf
House Bill No. 6239 Casey, Solomon, Chippendale, Slater, Voas, Finkelman, Dawson, Phillips, Corvese, J. Brien, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND TAX AMNESTY ACT OF 2017 (Authorizes the tax administrator to waive interest and penalties on delinquent taxes paid in full during a one week amnesty period. Also reinstates a suspended driver’s license upon payment in full.)
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6239.pdf