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House and Senate finance committees passed companion resolutions on June 10 to create a 15-member study commission examining the Rhode Island Foundation's Blue Ribbon Commission proposal to overhaul K-12 education funding. The resolutions are scheduled for final floor votes on June 11, the expected last day of session. Joint resolutions do not require the governor's signature.
The Rhode Island House Education Committee passed legislation June 8 to impose a three-year moratorium on new charter school approvals and reduce the statewide cap from 35 to 28 schools. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Messier, now heads to the full House for a floor vote alongside its Senate companion, which passed the Senate 31-6 on June 4. The session is expected to end Friday.
The Rhode Island General Assembly will not bring the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act to the floor for a vote this session, despite sponsorship by Senate President Valarie Lawson and House Majority Leader Katherine Kazarian. In a joint statement with Secretary of State Gregg Amore, legislative leaders said the complex legislation requires more work and will be considered in 2027. Advocates say they were blindsided by the decision.
The Rhode Island Senate will not confirm Gov. Dan McKee's March nomination of Donna Sams to the Public Utilities Commission during the 2026 session due to concerns about her energy expertise. Senate spokesperson Greg Paré confirmed June 10 that Sams will have to wait until the legislature reconvenes in January 2027 for a potential appointment. Commissioner Abigail Anthony, whose term expired in 2023, can remain in her seat under state law.
The Senate approved the fiscal 2027 budget 32-6 on June 9, sending the $15.2 billion spending plan to Gov. McKee for signature. The budget includes a phased millionaire's tax, creation of an inspector general position, and controversial changes to Rhode Island Energy street repaving requirements. Republicans and two Democrats opposed the measure, citing rapid passage and a 6% spending increase.
The Rhode Island House approved legislation on June 9 permitting individuals to expunge up to four felony convictions from public records. The bill increases waiting periods to 15 years for multiple felonies and expands the list of non-expungeable crimes. The measure passed 61-12 after failed amendments to shorten waiting times and remove certain crimes like child neglect from the ineligible list.
Rhode Island lawmakers approved legislation allowing victims of clergy sex abuse to file civil lawsuits against the Catholic Church for previously time-barred claims. The bill creates a two-year window for survivors to sue institutions that enabled or concealed abuse. The House passed the measure 68-4 on June 8, following unanimous Senate approval, and it now heads to Gov. McKee for signature.
An anti-hazing bill has passed both chambers and moves to Gov. Dan McKee's desk, who confirmed he will sign it into law. The measure directs RIDE to work with RIIL to establish statewide hazing definitions, zero-tolerance policies, and penalties ranging from individual suspensions to team-level sanctions. The legislation follows hazing incidents at Smithfield and Rogers high schools in 2025.
The General Assembly is finalizing legislation to eliminate the requirement that recreational cannabis license holders be majority owned by Rhode Island residents. Bills sponsored by Rep. Slater and Sen. Bissaillon aim to resolve three federal lawsuits that halted license awards and restart the Cannabis Control Commission application process within 60 days. Both chambers have approved companion versions of the measure.
The General Assembly passed joint resolutions establishing a special study commission to investigate hospital staffing adequacy, patient safety impacts, and recruitment practices. The commission, which does not require the governor's signature, has a Sept. 1, 2027 deadline for recommendations and expires Jan. 30, 2028. The measure passed both chambers on June 4.
Rhode Island lawmakers are advancing a budget deal that excludes major climate policy changes proposed by Governor Dan McKee, who sought to cap energy efficiency spending and delay the state's 2033 renewable energy deadline. The House budget preserves most climate programs while making smaller changes to the renewable energy standard. The legislation, which passed the House on June 5, marks a defeat for McKee's affordability-focused rollback efforts.
