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Governor Dan McKee signed legislation creating an $18 million fund to support Centurion's acquisition of Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital. The funding is contingent on Centurion securing outside financing. The move aims to ensure continuity of care at both hospitals, which face financial uncertainty under current ownership.
The House Committee on State Government and Elections postponed a planned Thursday vote on H8216, legislation that would create a seven-member advisory committee to review the Coastal Resources Management Council's water type designations and climate adaptation regulations. The 11th-hour delay, confirmed by House leadership minutes before the vote, suggests potential amendments. Environmental groups oppose the bill as unnecessary interference with an under-resourced agency.
Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation moving Rhode Island's primary election from Tuesday, September 8 to Wednesday, September 9, 2026, due to concerns about insufficient time to set up over 400 polling places after the Labor Day weekend. State and local election officials requested the change, though filing deadlines remain unchanged.
The Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation on April 28 allowing Middletown to adopt a property tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans regardless of service dates. The bill, sponsored by Reps. Alex Finkelman and Terri Cortvriend, provides additional relief for 100% disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, now heading to Gov. McKee for consideration.
A new poll shows Republican John Loughlin in a statistical tie with incumbent Democrat Sabina Matos in the 2026 lieutenant governor race. The Opinion Diagnostics poll of 802 likely voters conducted April 13-16 carries a margin of error of ±3.5%. Matos faces three Democratic primary challengers, while Loughlin has low name recognition after being out of office for 15-plus years.
Democratic primary challenger Helena Foulkes raised $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2026, more than double Gov. Dan McKee's $490,000. Foulkes now has $3.65 million cash on hand compared to McKee's $1.3 million. Despite McKee's strongest fundraising quarter ever, Foulkes maintains a significant financial advantage heading into campaign season.
Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation moving Rhode Island's primary election from Tuesday, Sept. 8 to Wednesday, Sept. 9 to give state and local officials adequate time to set up more than 400 polling places after the Labor Day holiday weekend. The filing deadlines remain unchanged. Election officials had raised concerns about the difficulty of setting up polls in schools, social halls, and churches on a holiday.
The Rhode Island Senate approved two bills sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray to limit insured patients' costs for inhalers and for diabetes supplies and equipment. One bill caps copays for a 30-day supply of insulin administration and glucose monitoring supplies at $25. The bills, now headed to the House of Representatives, are aimed at lowering costs for medical supplies critical for Rhode Islanders living with diabetes, asthma, and other chronic conditions.
US District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose was not informed that Bryan Rafael Gomez faced murder charges in the Dominican Republic when she approved his release on habeas corpus petition, according to court officials. The Department of Homeland Security publicly criticized the judge, but Assistant US Attorney Kevin Bolan admitted in a Friday filing he was instructed by ICE not to disclose the warrant information. A Monday hearing is scheduled to determine if the government should be held in contempt.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed Charles 'Chas' Calenda as 'Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney' for Rhode Island after his 120-day interim US Attorney term expired April 28. Chief Judge John McConnell declined to appoint a replacement to avoid clashing with the administration. Democratic senators had opposed Calenda's original appointment, calling him unqualified, and the move appears to circumvent normal Senate confirmation protocols.
Governor Dan McKee withdrew an across-the-board payment cut to large solar farms and introduced a voluntary fixed-price program instead. The governor also proposes lowering the virtual net metering cap from 275 megawatts to 125. A budget amendment would also push the state's 100% renewable energy goal from current targets to 2050. McKee's office says the revised plan still saves ratepayers $1 billion over five years.
