Legislative Updates 2026 Legislative Session Begins   The 2026 legislative session kicked off January 6th, with the House Speaker and Senate President addressing their respective members.  On the House side, the Speaker stated, “Let’s buckle up and buckle down. It’s going to be a very challenging year.” He referenced the significant changes made on the…

Legislative Updates 2026 Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Policy Platform 2026 Policy Platform Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Introduction The Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce represents businesses across Newport County and works to strengthen our regional economy by advocating for pro-business policies, offering direct technical support to entrepreneurs, and providing critical data and insights on…

Legislative Updates The General Assembly session recessed in the early morning hours of June 21. Over the last couple weeks of the session, legislators passed bills increasing the minimum wage, banning the sale of assault weapons, increasing funding for primary care, hospitals and nursing homes, measures to address housing development and affordability among many other…

Legislative Updates Advocacy in Action from the R.I. Chamber Coalition   The House Finance Committee passed a budget at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.  The $14.334 billion budget includes $45 million for primary care doctors, $38 million in extra money for hospitals, $12 million for nursing homes, and more money for education than provided for…

Legislative Updates 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 Committee last night.   The…

Legislative Updates 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 country. This increase would…

Legislative Updates 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 the House…

Legislative Updates 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 full House will debate and vote…

Legislative Updates 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 authority Reconstitute the HRC as an advisory body…

Legislative Updates 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 that now is not…

Legislative Updates 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 an unfair and…

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,…