 |
|
3/3/2025
|
MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee meets twice this week to hear department budgets, budget articles and legislation
|
STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting twice this week to hear testimony on department budgets, budget articles and legislation.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
On Tuesday, March 4 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on the FY 25 revised and FY 26 budgets for the Department of Housing.
The committee will also hear the following budget articles from the FY 26 budget proposal:
Among the legislation being heard by the committee are the following bills:
-
2025-S 0242, sponsored by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Creates the Warwick Public Schools Budget Commission consisting of five members to oversee the operations of Warwick public schools and to present a preliminary analysis of the school district's financial situation.
-
2025-S 0335, sponsored by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston), removes the exemption from the state hotel tax for residences rented in their entirety.
-
2025-S 0418, sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Charlestown, Westerly, South Kingstown), includes “hosting platform” under the definition of “room-seller” and imposes a tax of 5% on the rental of a house or condominium, with the tax used exclusively for infrastructure improvements, riverine and coastal resiliency and housing.
-
2025-S 0445, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), allows an individual, who is a first-time homebuyer, to contribute funds to a first- time homebuyers saving account with Rhode Island Housing to pay for eligible costs to purchase a home.
On Thursday, March 6 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on the following department budgets and budget articles:
-
Department of Administration: FY 25 Supplemental and FY 26 budgets
-
Article 2, Section 2 - Relating to State Funds (Indirect Cost Recovery Rate)
-
Article 3, Sections 3, 7-13, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25 - Office of Internal Audit changes
-
Article 3, Section 14 - MPA contract fee
-
Article 3, Section 15 – State Department of Energy Reporting
-
Article 3, Section 17 – Risk Management
-
Office of Energy Resources: FY2025 Supplemental and FY2026 Budgets
-
Article 3, Section 20 - Relating to Government Reform and Reorganization (RI Energy Resources Act)
The meetings will be televised by Capitol Television on: Cox Communications, channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) on 15; and Verizon, on channel 34. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv
For more information, contact:
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for the Senate
State House Room 112
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 276-5558
|
|