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3/30/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee meets twice this week to hear budget articles, department budgets legislation and an appointment
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting twice this week to continue hearing budget articles, department budgets, legislation and one appointment.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
On Tuesday, March 31 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m. in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear the appointment of Will Tsonos as the chair of the Life Science Hub.
The committee will also hear the FY 26 revised and FY 27 budgets for the Department of Business Regulation and the Cannabis Control Commission. It will also hear testimony on FY 27 budget Article 11, Section 1 (Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Reporting and Study Act) and Article 11, Sections 12 and 13 (Health Spending Accountability and Transparency Program).
The committee will also hear the following bills:
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2026-S 3128, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, provides for annual appropriations to the Substance Use Mental Health Leadership Council to address hazardous and underage cannabis use.
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2026-S 3155, sponsored by Sen. Brian J. Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland), exempts from taxation the property of the non-profit Mount St. Rita Health Center located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025.
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2026-S 2816, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, appropriates the sum of $118,422 to the Rhode Island Parent Information Network
On Thursday, April 2 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 Department of Transportation and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. It will also hear testimony on the following articles from the FY 27 budget:
Among the legislation scheduled to be heard are the following bills:
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2026-S 2092, sponsored by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence), imposes a $0.75 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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2026-S 2095, sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), gives 20% of proceeds in RI Highway Maintenance Account to RIPTA.
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2026-S 2825, sponsored by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $5 million 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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2026-S 3013, sponsored by Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence), increases and reallocates the fees collected for motor vehicle inspections, including motorcycle inspections, with an allocation of $10 to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.
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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