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6/18/2026
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RIBLIA Caucus highlights 2026 legislative initiatives included in budget
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STATE HOUSE – The Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American and Pacific Islander (RIBLIA) Caucus saw several of its initiatives included in the FY 27 state budget.
Sen. Tiara T. Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence) and Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) are the co-chairs of the caucus.
The first initiative included in the budget was Representative Alzate’s proposal to make Rhode Island’s richest residents pay their fair share in taxes. The “Millionaire’s Tax” was included in the amended budget (2026-H 7127Aaa) and it establishes a high-earner’s tax of 1 percent a year over three years for income more than $1 million a year.
Senator Mack’s proposal to support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (2026-S 2237) was also included in the budget, which appropriates $2.95 million to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to help address food insecurity.
The third initiative included in the budget was the Support and Access to Bilingual Education (SABE) Act (2026-H 7389, 2026-S 2555), sponsored by Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence) and Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick). The legislation established a bilingual education support fund within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support dual language education programs in schools. The amended budget allocates $750,000 to support these programs.
The fourth initiative included in the budget was the reestablishment of local control over the Central Falls School District. Championed by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket) and Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls), the amended budget returned the school system to municipal control upon the passage of the budget. Senator Acosta and Representative Giraldo recently finished work on a joint legislative study commission that recommended and laid the groundwork for the reestablishment of local control. The budget effectively ends the longest recorded school system takeover in the United States.
The fifth initiative included in the budget was the Childcare Is Essential Act (2026-H 7393, 2026-S 2667Aaa), sponsored by Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) and Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence), which increased childcare assistance eligibility to 285% of the federal poverty level.
“RIBLIA Caucus members collectively worked on dozens of bills and issues spanning education, work force development, food security and more. We are immensely proud to lead this cohort of dedicated public servants and community leaders. This session, we are pleased to celebrate several important bills that caucus members have been working hard on that were included in the state budget. These budget items will help working Rhode Islanders, low-income families, bilingual students and Rhode Island’s communities of color. The Central Falls community is also grateful and excited to regain local control of their schools after many decades. These items represent the RIBLIA Caucus’s continued commitment to supporting Rhode Island’s diverse communities and enabling individuals, children and families to grow and thrive within our state,” said co-chairs Mack and Alzate.
The RIBLIA Caucus represents and advocates for the interests of people of color throughout the state of Rhode Island. Through legislative advocacy and community engagement, the RIBLIA Caucus is dedicated to building a more inclusive and representative government that reflects the diversity of Rhode Island residents.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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