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1/15/2025
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Legislators rally in support of equity impact rule change
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 STATE HOUSE — Legislators joined advocates and supporters, including the Economic Progress Institute, Common Cause Rhode Island, United Way of Rhode Island and the Equity Impact Campaign, to support legislation to establish the use of equity impact statements in the Rhode Island General Assembly.
“Every legislative document that is introduced, from a resolution to a bill to a budget article, is, in fact, a moral document,” said Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence). “It is a moral document that reflects the values of a legislator and the changes that they seek to make in our community. And while we have processes and mechanisms in place to measure a bill’s impact on the state budget — otherwise known as fiscal notes — it has become increasingly clear over the years that there is a pressing need to evaluate legislation through the lens of equity, especially for Rhode Island’s working people and families.”
Equity impact statements are tools, like fiscal notes, which use data to measure how legislation could affect historical imbalances and other disparities in Rhode Island law and society. Assessing race, ethnicity, age, gender, disability and other factors, equity impact statements seek to help legislators determine whether bills that they are considering will likely increase or decrease equity.
“Equity impact should come naturally to us because it is a love language. Good policy is a love language; it is a statement that tells our neighbors across the state from Woonsocket to Westerly that we see them and that we love them,” said Senator Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence). “Equity impact statements are a powerful way to show all Rhode Islanders in every single community that we see and understand their struggles here in the State House, and we are addressing their struggles in the State House, because these are the people we were elected to serve and we love every single Rhode Islander.”
The bill (2025-H 5010), introduced by Representative Morales, would amend House rules for the 2025 and 2026 sessions to allow both the Speaker and the Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (RIBLIA) Caucus to request equity impact statements for up to five bills each per session.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Rules Committee Jan. 15 at the rise of the House sometime after 4:30 p.m. in Room 101 on the first floor of the State House.
Sen. Tiara Mack plans to offer a companion bill in the Senate shortly.
Sens. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Brian Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) also attended the event.
The Economic Progress Institute and the Equity Impact Campaign believe that equity impact statements would improve transparency by showing the public how decisions are likely to affect them, which would strengthen the democratic process, empower communities and raise awareness of existing disparities, spurring more comprehensive discussions about how everyone should have the same chance to succeed in Rhode Island.
“As is the case nationally, income inequality and wealth inequality are high in Rhode Island,” said Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute. “Equity impact statements are a way to rebalance a system that’s badly out of balance — and to begin to honestly assess the disparities that exist in wealth, education, employment, housing, mobility, health, rates of incarceration and other metrics across our society.”
If the legislation is enacted, Rhode Island would join a growing number of states to implement equity evaluations. Nine states — Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Virginia — have passed legislation to use impact statements to assess equity.
“Because information is power, those with the information have historically held the power in Rhode Island,” said John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island. “The result has been legislation that reflects the priorities of those in power. Equity impact statements give more information, and thus power, to rank-and-file legislators who can use it to make sure more voices are considered in the legislative process.”
“It is critical that important decisions are always made with all Rhode Islanders in mind,” said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “That means that we must be intentional about what legislation we propose, how the laws are implemented, and understand who is impacted for better or worse. United Way of RI believes that the Equity Impact Bill is a critical step in assessing how legislation can break the barriers of systemic inequities that persist in our state.”
“What does it say about Rhode Island and our society if we know that disparities exist, what causes them, and have a way to begin to improve tens of thousands of lives — but don’t do what we must?” said Raymond L. Watson, executive director for the Center for Indigenous People’s Rights, and Chippinuonk Sachem of the Mashapaug Nahaganset Tribe. “We must recognize that many individuals and communities in Rhode Island have different starting points, challenges, and hardships. Equity impact statements can start the process of ensuring that they have a fair chance to succeed and flourish, too.”
“Equity impact statements hold great significance for young people because these statements can address pressing issues that directly affect youth — right here and now in their homes and communities — and their prospects for the future,” said Rose Albert, executive director of Rhode Island for Community & Justice. “As an organization that puts Rhode Island youth front and center, RICJ supports this legislation with all our being and might.”
“When youth are shown that people in positions of power, like policymakers, care about their voices, it inspires consistent civic participation and lifelong dedication to community,” said Yarleen Rosario, who is affiliated with Rhode Island for Community & Justice and spoke “as a youth who has experienced the power of being heard and the pain of being ignored.” She added, “To discuss youth involvement, we must address equity.”
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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