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3/23/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee meets twice this week to hear budget articles, department budgets and legislation
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting twice this week to continue hearing budget articles, department budgets and legislation.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
On Tuesday, March 24 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m. in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on Article 5, Sections 3 and 4 (Cigarette and Cigar Taxes) from the FY 27 budget. The committee will also hear the Governor’s Budget Amendment #5 ($1 tax cap on cigars).
The committee will also hear the following bills:
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2026-S 2360, 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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2026-S 2844, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, defines “electronic nicotine-delivery system shop” and requires that 10% of sales revenue from said shops be transferred to the tobacco cessation programs pursuant to § 27-20-53.
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2026-S 3131, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, defines an alternative nicotine product as any noncombustible product without tobacco leaf but nicotine from another source and also taxes alternative nicotine products at $2.00 per container up to 20 units.
On Thursday, March 26 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 26 revised and FY 27 budgets for the Office of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections.
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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