Posts by kate@newportchamber.com
House Finance Committee Passed Budget
Legislative Updates House Finance Committee Passed Budget The House Finance Committee passed the $14.3 billion budget last night on an 11-3 vote. The budget will be debated by the full House of Representatives on June 17. Here is a preliminary summary of some of the items in the budget that was passed by the House Finance…
Read MoreBusiness Coalition Session Update
Legislative Updates Business Coalition Session Update House Committee Passes Amended Minimum Wage Bill The House Labor Committee passed a bill to increase the minimum wage. House bill 5029, Substitute A will increase the minimum wage to $17 per hour effective January 1, 2027. Rhode Island already has the 7th highest minimum wage rates in the…
Read MoreLegislative Update
Legislative Updates Legislative Update This Week At the State House The House posted the Budget for consideration in the House Finance Committee on both Tuesday and Wednesday. This will allow the committee to use Wednesday as a backup in the event the budget documents are not ready Tuesday. Legislative bills continue to post as…
Read MorePress Advisory: Aquidneck Island and NAVSTA Compatible Use Study Public Workshop
Press Advisory Press Advisory: Aquidneck Island and NAVSTA Compatible Use Study Public Workshop Please join us for a public workshop for the Aquidneck Island and Naval Station Newport Compatible Use Study. The study is evaluating opportunities to improve transportation, land use and water-related infrastructure as the installation and the Island community evolves over the next several…
Read MoreThis Week at the State House
Legislative Updates This Week at the State House June 2, 2025 This Week At the State House from the RI Chamber Coalition 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…
Read MorePress Release: RI Commerce Corporation
Press Release Press Release: RI Commerce Corporation Governor McKee and Rhode Island Commerce Mark Start of $52M in Statewide Broadband Infrastructure Projects FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 23, 2025 PRESS CONTACT Matthew Touchette 401-545-0626 PRESS RELEASE Governor McKee and Rhode Island Commerce Mark Start of $52M in Statewide Broadband Infrastructure Projects NEWPORT, R.I.…
Read MoreGeneral Assembly Session Update from RI Business Coalition
Legislative Updates General Assembly Session Update from RI Business Coalition May 29, 2025 RIPEC Report on Needed Reforms of Housing Resources Commission This week, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) released a report outlining recommended reforms for the Housing Resources Commission (HRC). Among the report’s recommendations: Change the HRC’s statutory authority Remove all HRC funding…
Read MoreAction Alert: Minimum Wage
Legislative Updates Action Alert: Minimum Wage As the General Assembly session heads into the final few weeks, yet another increase in the minimum wage is in play. Proposals are being considered to increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage, already the 7th highest in the country, to $20 per hour. Your elected officials need to hear from you…
Read MoreAdvocacy in Action
Legislative Updates Advocacy in Action RI Chamber Coalition May 27, 2025 Price Transparency Last Thursday, the House Corporations Committee voted favorably for H 5247 SUB A, which narrowly tailored the “junk fee” legislation to be consistent with the Federal Trade Commission rule that took effect May 12, 20205, and which specifies that it is…
Read MoreAdvocacy in Action
Legislative Updates Advocacy in Action RI Chamber Coalition This Week at the State House Tuesday, May 20th The Senate Finance Committee has a full schedule in Room 212 At the Rise (approximately 4:30). There are five bills of interest to the business community: Shift of Utility Costs to Businesses and Higher Income Earners S.185,…
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