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The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 46-17 on May 29 to legalize water cremation (aquamation) and human composting as end-of-life options. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Portsmouth), passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. The bill now awaits Senate consideration, with supporters citing environmental benefits and expanded family choice.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed to intervene in Kalshi's federal lawsuit against Rhode Island, arguing only the CFTC has authority to regulate prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket. The move came after RI Attorney General Peter Neronha sued both platforms in state court, claiming their event contracts violate state gambling laws. The legal clash pits federal trading oversight against Rhode Island's state-run sports betting monopoly.
A Washington County Superior Court jury found Scott Leski, 57, guilty of first- and second-degree sexual assault plus four counts of patient abuse. Prosecutors said Leski assaulted two elderly rehabilitation patients in 2020 and 2023 while working as an agency nurse at Bayview Rehabilitation Center in North Kingstown. Attorney General Peter Neronha called the crimes a betrayal of trust that will haunt victims and families.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld a lower court's dismissal of disparate-treatment and disparate-impact claims filed by El Bebe Daycare Center after its CACFP termination. Justice Erin Lynch Prata authored the unanimous opinion affirming that the discrimination allegations could have been raised before an administrative review official. Superior Court Judge Kevin F. McHugh originally granted the motion to dismiss.
A retired federal judge and Attorney General Peter Neronha jointly appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to argue SB 2616—extending the statute of limitations for sexual-abuse claims against institutions like the Diocese of Providence—is constitutional and should proceed to a vote. Senate Judiciary Chair Mathew LaMountain introduced a resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the RI Supreme Court on constitutionality. The House has already passed companion legislation overwhelmingly.
Governor Dan McKee's administration is abandoning plans to build a new state long-term acute care hospital at the Zambarano Campus in Burrillville after costs ballooned to $322 million—triple the 2023 estimate. A new study recommends constructing a $243 million facility in Cranston instead, citing lower infrastructure costs. The shift reflects escalating construction expenses and urgent need to replace aging state healthcare infrastructure.
Rhode Island's House Finance Committee approved a $15.2 billion budget for fiscal 2027, roughly $300 million larger than Governor McKee's January proposal and $900 million above the current year. The budget includes a phased-in 3% tax on income over $1 million and a new office of inspector general. The plan now advances to the full House for a vote.
The House Finance Committee approved a $15.2 billion budget for fiscal 2027, exceeding Gov. McKee's $14.9 billion proposal. The revised plan spreads a 3% income tax hike on earnings over $1 million across three years rather than one, aiming to balance revenue needs against potential economic shocks. The budget also establishes a new state inspector general office with $1.3 million in funding and 12 full-time positions to monitor state agencies for waste and fraud.
House Democratic leaders unveiled a $15.2 billion budget that preserves Gov. McKee's millionaire's tax but phases the 3% surcharge in over three years. Speaker Blazejewski said the gradual approach avoids shocks and ensures revenue arrives as federal support potentially declines. The budget also creates an inspector general office and expands a child tax credit while scaling back a proposed Social Security tax elimination.
The R.I. Council on Elementary and Secondary Education voted 7-1 to give Providence back control of its schools, ending state intervention that began in 2019. The decision follows Education Commissioner Infante-Green's recommendation to return local control by July 1, a year earlier than previously suggested. The move came after a week of mixed signals and tense exchanges between city and state leaders.
Gov. McKee's administration is scrapping plans to build a new state hospital on the Zambarano Campus in Burrillville after costs spiraled to $322 million, more than triple the 2023 estimate. A new study found that building in Cranston would cost $243 million, significantly cheaper than the Burrillville site due to infrastructure challenges. The state urgently needs a new long-term care facility to meet patient demand and avoid losing federal funding.
