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5/11/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Finance Committee meets twice this week to hear legislation, a budget amendment and a reappointment
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Finance Committee will be meeting twice this week to hear legislation, a budget amendment and a reappointment.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).
On Tuesday, May 12 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m. in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on a proposed budget amendment relating to virtual net metering and renewable energy standards.
Among the legislation scheduled to be heard are the following bills:
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2026-S 2098, sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence), includes menthol as a flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product.
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2026-S 2764, sponsored by Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln), expands RI's Renewable Energy Standard to include nuclear and hydroelectric power as eligible zero-emission resources and sets rules for how to qualify.
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2026-S 2087, sponsored by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), includes municipal detention facility corporations as exempt from taxation, and requires that an amount equal to 27% of all tax that would have been collected if the property was taxable be paid to the municipality annually.
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2026-S 2445, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, prohibits state agencies from entering into software contracts that limit the agency's ability to install or run the software of the agency's choosing on their hardware.
On Thursday, May 14 at the RISE of the Senate (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 211 of the State House, the committee will hear the reappointment of Scott Lajoie to the RI Infrastructure Bank.
Among the legislation scheduled to be heard are the following bills:
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2026-S 2234, sponsored by Chairman DiPalma, allows members of the retirement system who served in the National Guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National Guard or reserves.
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2026-S 2362, sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown), increases the monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse and grants a 3.34% COLA for eligible retirees.
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2026-S 2537, sponsored Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), gives teachers who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 days.
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2026-S 2818, sponsored by Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston), 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.
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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