 |
|
3/31/2025
|
MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee to meet three times this week to hear department budgets, budget articles and legislation
|
STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting three times 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, April 1, at RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on the following bills:
-
2025-S 0543, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, defines a vape shop and exempts it from the prohibition of selling electronic nicotine-delivery system products.
-
2025-S 0046, sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), extends allocation of the motor fuel tax to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Fund through 2025. It changes the allocation to 30% total proceeds, including 30% from the one cent per gallon environmental protection fee through 2026 and thereafter.
-
2025-S 0047, sponsored by Senator Zurier, adjusts the motor fuel tax for inflation every two years based on the inflation that has occurred in the previous two years.
The committee will also hear the following FY 26 budget articles:
The committee will also hear testimony on the FY 25 revised and FY 26 budgets for the Department of Transportation.
On Thursday, April 3, at 3 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 Office of the Attorney General and the Judiciary.
Also, on Thursday, April 3, 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 following departments:
-
Department of Environmental Management (DEM)
-
Coastal Resources Management Council
The committee will also hear testimony on Article 3, Sections 5 and 6, of the FY 26 budget, which relates to government reform and reorganization.
The committee will also hear testimony on the following bills:
-
2025-S 0108, sponsored by Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol), directs the General Assembly to fund 10 full time equivalent positions in FY 2026 to support DEM's efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.
-
2025-S 0436, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, establishes an agricultural restricted receipt account within DEM. An advisory committee would be established to determine suggested uses of the funds in said account.
-
2025-S 0781, sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown), redefines “farm” by reducing the amount of revenue from farm products required to be sold from $10,000 to $2,500.
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
|
|