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4/13/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: House Finance Committee meets three times this week to hear legislation and budget amendments
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STATE HOUSE – The House Finance Committee will be meeting three times this week to hear legislation and budget amendments.
On Tuesday, April 14 at the RISE of the House (approximately 4:45 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on a variety of legislation. Among the legislation scheduled to be heard are the following bills:
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2026-H 7243, sponsored by Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton), directs the General Assembly to fund 10 full time equivalent positions in FY 2027 to support the Department of Environmental Management’s efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.
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2026-H 8145, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer A. Stewart (D-Dist. 59, 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.
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2026-H 8181, sponsored by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton), exempts trucks engaged in waste management collection at the central landfill from tolls operated by the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
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2026-H 8197, sponsored by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston), exempts new or used bicycles and bicycle parts from sales and use taxes.
On Wednesday, April 15 at 4 p.m. in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will hear the following budget amendments relating to the Rural Health Transformation Program:
On Thursday, April 16 at the RISE of the House (approximately 4:45 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on a variety of legislation. Among the legislation scheduled to be heard are the following bills:
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2026-H 7160, sponsored by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence), allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least 28 years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number 85.
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2026-H 7162, sponsored by Rep. Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter), allows a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all public pension benefits administered by the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island.
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2026-H 7806, sponsored by Rep. Alex S. Finkelman (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), allows retired state employees to be reemployed by a municipality with no restrictions and with no loss of their existing retirement benefits.
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2026-H 8147, sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry), provides that retirees in the state pension system receive cost of living adjustments compounded into the retiree's total retirement benefits each year beginning January 1, 2026. This act would be prospective only.
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. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv
For more information, contact:
Larry Berman, Communications Director for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 322
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 447-2655
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