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4/7/2025
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee to meet two times this week to hear department budgets and legislation
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting two times this week to hear testimony on department budgets and legislation.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
On Tuesday, April 8, at 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:
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Office of Lieutenant Governor
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Governor’s Commission on Disabilities
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Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
The committee will also receive an update on the RIPTA Efficiency Study.
The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:
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2025-S 0046, sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), extends allocation of 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.
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2025-S 0092, sponsored by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence), imposes a seventy-five cent surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.
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2025-S 0342, sponsored by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $32,594,799 to the RI Public Transit Authority to continue services, hire and train more bus operators, and implement the State's Act on Climate goals.
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2025-S 0419, sponsored by Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket), establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies, which said sales taxes would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.
On Thursday, April 10, 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 Human Services.
The committee will also hear testimony on the following bills:
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2025-S 0100, sponsored by Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham), eliminates the sunset on the provision of finding for child care for eligible child care educators and child care staff.
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2025-S 0417, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, reduces the cigarette tax imposed by 75% for any modified risk tobacco product as defined in § 21 U.S.C. 387 k as a tobacco product sold/distributed to reduce the harm/risk of tobacco-related disease associated with commercially marketed tobacco products.
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2025-S 0658, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield), Amends the Rhode Island Works Program to allow lawful permanent residents to receive benefits without a waiting period.
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2025-S 0673, sponsored by Sen. Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), directs the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education to work collaboratively to sustain and strengthen existing workforce development and compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs statewide.
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2025-S 0866, sponsored by Senator Britto, provides a $3,000 stipend to a qualified applicant who successfully completes the job training program of the Department of Human Services or Department of Children, Youth and Families.
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
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