Image: https://rilegislature.gov///pressrelease/Pictures/_w/260903-AG-chart_jpg.jpg

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #156; #260;

PressReleaseID: 21,487

Publicist: David Bergantino, CPA, CFE

PublicistID: 38

Published Date: 9/3/2026 2:05 PM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Christopher Blazejewski; Sen. Valarie J. Lawson;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE – Net position of the Rhode Island State Employees’ and Electing Teachers OPEB System (System) increased by $88.6 million during fiscal 2025 to $752.4 million at June 30, 2025. The increase was largely due to positive investment returns experienced during the fiscal year.

The financial statements of the System for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, and the Independent Auditor’s Report thereon are included in the Financial Report of the System. The audit and related communications were issued by Auditor General David A. Bergantino and released today by the Joint Committee on Legislative Services. The auditors concluded that the System’s financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the fiduciary net position of the plans as of June 30, 2025, and the changes in fiduciary net position for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The audit encompassed the six defined benefit other post-employment benefit (OPEB) plans administered by the System – i.e., separate plans for state employees, electing teachers, judges, State Police, legislators and certain employees of the Board of Education. The plans within the System generally provide healthcare coverage to pre-Medicare eligible retirees, with certain plans also providing healthcare benefits to retirees who are Medicare eligible. The defined benefit plans currently cover more than 22,000 retired and active members.

The actual investment return, net of investment expenses, during the fiscal year was 11.10% (compared to 11.59% during the prior fiscal year), and the net investment income of the pooled investment trust was $75.6 million (compared to net investment income of $70.1 million during fiscal year 2024). The System reported total investment expenses of $2.2 million for fiscal 2025.

Benefits paid to retirees and beneficiaries from the defined benefit plans during fiscal 2025 totaled $34.4 million. Employer contributions totaled more than $43.6 million to all the defined benefit plans. Member contributions, applicable to the Board of Education plan only, totaled $1.9 million.

The accounting measures of the net OPEB liability (asset) (GASB Statement No. 74) used for financial reporting differ from the measures used to determine actuarially determined contribution amounts for funding purposes. Employers participating in the System’s plans report the net OPEB liability (asset), or their proportionate share, on their government-wide financial statements as required by GASB Statement No. 75 - Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions.

Each plan’s fiduciary net position as a percentage of the total OPEB liability, determined as of June 30, 2025, is detailedin the chart on the right side of this page.

All OPEB plan funds are well funded with the teachers, judges, State Police, legislators and Board of Education plans reporting net OPEB assets with plan net position exceeding the total OPEB liability at the measurement date.

The OPEB liability for all plans was determined using the System’s investment return assumption of 5.0%.  

The audit report also includes information on the net OPEB liability (asset) of the plans over time as well as the employer contributions made to each plan compared to actuarially determined amounts.  

In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, the Auditor General’s Office also issued its Independent Auditor’s Report on its consideration of the System’s internal control over financial reporting and our tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations and contracts. The audit report included a finding reporting internal control deficiencies noted in the financial and administrative processes of the OPEB System with four recommendations for consideration by management.

The System’s Financial Report which includes the Independent Auditor’s Reports, is available on the Office of the Auditor General’s website:

OPEB System Financial Audit Report - Rhode Island OPEB Financial Statements - Fiscal Year 2025.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

Image: https://rilegislature.gov//pressrelease/Pictures/_w/090126-azzinaro-vietnam-memorial-press-conference-web_jpg.jpg

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #134;

PressReleaseID: 21,486

Publicist: Andrew Caruolo

PublicistID: 25

Published Date: 9/2/2026 2:37 PM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Samuel Azzinaro;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly)  held a press conference yesterday, Sept. 1, to announce the future site of the Vietnam Memorial monument.  The monument will be located along the Providence River behind 200 Dyer Street in downtown Providence.

“Rhode Island’s Vietnam War veterans have for too long gone without a fitting tribute to their bravery, honor and sacrifices.  This site will serve our Vietnam veterans well by keeping their service and memories alive for the public.  I thank all who had a hand in today’s announcement, and I look forward to being back here to officially open the new Vietnam Memorial once construction is complete,” said Chairman Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly).

Chairman Azzinaro has chaired the Vietnam Memorial Commission and has been working with government and private officials to secure this site for a fitting memorial to Rhode Island’s Vietnam War Veterans.

Vietnam Veterans of America Rhode Island State Council, in partnership with Sisti Group Marketing, will be launching a website to collect donations for the memorial.

Photo - House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel A. Azzinaro addresses the crowd at the announcement of the location of a new Vietnam War Memorial to be located in Providence.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #224;

PressReleaseID: 21,485

Publicist: Meredyth R. Whitty

PublicistID: 5

Published Date: 9/2/2026 10:29 AM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Lauren H. Carson;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE – Rep. Lauren H. Carson is encouraging all voters to participate in an online survey being conducted by the Rhode Island League of Women Voters to provide a snapshot of how many Rhode Islanders might be affected if the federal SAVE Act were enacted.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (also called the SAVE Act or SAVE America Act) is a federal bill that would impose new restrictions on voting and voter registration. It has passed the U.S. House of Representatives multiple times since 2024, including most recently in February 2026. Among other provisions, it would require that voters present proof of citizenship – for most, a passport or birth certificate – to register and to present specific state-issued photo IDs to cast a ballot.

While the bill has been stalled in the Senate, it is not dead and could be brought for a vote when the Senate returns from recess in September.

The Newport County League of Women Voters and its state and national parent organizations have issued action alerts about the SAVE Act. The NCLWV is seeking respondents for a statewide survey to collect data about how many voters might be affected if the legislation were enacted.

Representative Carson is urging all voters and potential voters to take the survey, available at this link.

“There are millions of Americans who don’t have a passport, and likely many millions who would have trouble tracking down their birth certificate. The League of Women Voters has been a strong advocate for voters in fighting the passage of this voter-suppression legislation. Participating in their brief survey will help them demonstrate the wide potential this act has to deprive Americans of their constitutional right to vote,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport). 

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #41;

PressReleaseID: 21,484

Publicist: Daniel Trafford

PublicistID: 24

Published Date: 9/1/2026 3:00 PM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Joseph McNamara;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE — Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, who introduced legislation last session that would have mandated soft shell helmet covers for high school football players, has announced that the Shriners of Rhode Island Charities Trust will be purchasing the covers for the state’s public high schools.

The Shriners will present the helmet covers to the state’s high school football coaches during an event Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Shriners headquarters, One Rhodes Place in Cranston. Representative McNamara will present the group with a House citation recognizing the Shriners’ work.

Known by the trade name Guardian Caps, helmet covers are large, soft-shell pads worn over football helmets with the objective of reducing the risk of concussions and other head injuries during play. The Guardian Cap is designed to absorb and disperse energy from hits to the head and body — effectively reducing the cumulative impact of collisions that are common in football. Guardian Cap helmet covers are currently used by more than 300 colleges, more than 3,000 high schools, and every NFL team, with adoption increasing rapidly as awareness of concussion-related injuries grows.

The Shriners will provide 36 Rhode Island high schools with 30 Guardian Caps each, with the goal of making safety equipment readily available to student athletes across the state, regardless of a school district’s budget.

“The legendary generosity of the Rhode Island Shriners means that the state will be able to provide its football players with better protection,” said Representative McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), who chairs the House Education Committee. “This is such incredibly good news for our student athletes. Concussions remain the most serious concern in football at all levels. Collisions on the gridiron that result in head injuries are extremely dangerous, and have even been fatal at the high school level. I cannot praise the Shriners enough for stepping up and providing this level of safety on our school fields.”

The Shriners’ donation comes on the heels of a newly published study that found up to 25% of former NFL players who died over a recent six-year period had the neurodegenerative disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The NFL mandates all players except quarterbacks, kickers, and punters wear padded protective covers over their helmets during contact practices.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

Image: https://rilegislature.gov//pressrelease/Pictures/_w/Craven-elm-grove-cemetary-grant-web_jpg.jpg

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #189;

PressReleaseID: 21,483

Publicist: Andrew Caruolo

PublicistID: 25

Published Date: 8/31/2026 3:11 PM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Robert Craven;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE – Rep. Robert E. Craven Sr. recently secured and delivered a $3,000 legislative grant to the board of directors for the Elm Grove Cemetery in North Kingstown.  The grant will be used for deferred maintenance, including restoration of deteriorated buildings, updated signage and mapping, and much needed landscaping.

“The Elm Grove Cemetery is a Rhode Island landmark of great historic importance and unfortunately, it has fallen into hard times over the past several years.  With the creation of a new and engaged leadership group, I am honored to help them revitalize the Elm Grove Cemetery with a legislative grant that will bring back the respect and glory that the cemetery and its inhabitants deserve,” said Representative Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).

The Elm Grove Cemetery is recognized as two separate designated historic sites by the RI Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries.  The grave of Rhode Island’s 46^th governor, William Gregory, can be found among the 11,000 graves at Elm Grove, including over 800 veterans of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, both World War I and II, Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Photo: Rep. Robert E. Craven Sr. (left) delivering a $3,000 legislative grant to the Elm Grove Cemetery board of directors.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #255;

PressReleaseID: 21,482

Publicist: Andrew Caruolo

PublicistID: 25

Published Date: 8/28/2026 10:48 AM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Karen Alzate;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: By Rep. Karen Alzate

All of us need energy.  Electricity to keep the lights on and natural gas to heat our homes are necessities to live, not luxuries.  Small businesses cannot operate and families cannot function and thrive without power.  These statements are simply facts of our modern lives.

But what also is true of daily living is that costs continue to rise across the board.  Not only are our energy bills rising each month, but food, clothes, childcare, medicine – everything is more expensive these days.  Which would be okay if wages kept pace with inflation, but we all know that they haven’t and our paychecks are being stretched further and further every single week.

People and small businesses are at their breaking point, and unfortunately, RI Energy is making things worse.

Over the past few months, I have received numerous calls from both residents and small businesses that have had their power cut off by RI Energy.  Now what makes these events so disturbing is that many of these shutoffs are occurring literally hours after a missed payment deadline.  Not months, not weeks, not days, but hours after being considered late on payment.

And to add insult to injury, RI Energy is requiring massive payment deposits that are far, far more than a normal monthly bill to reinstate power.  Many Rhode Island residents and small businesses can barely afford rent and other daily necessities and RI Energy expects them to forego every other aspect of their lives to restore power to their home or business.

This is simply not right.

Rising costs are crippling the working class of Rhode Island and RI Energy and its ever-increasing bill amounts are further hurting the hardworking residents and businesses of our great state.

In order to rectify this terribly unfair injustice, I will be looking into legislative solutions once the General Assembly reconvenes in January.  There is simply too much evidence that the operations and policies of RI Energy are out of control, and something must be done to help the Rhode Islanders who are being hurt by this corporation’s greed. 

Rep Karen Alzate, a Democrat, represents District 60 in Pawtucket and Central Falls.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026

IsPressReleaseHighlight: No

LegislatorID: #134;

PressReleaseID: 21,481

Publicist: Andrew Caruolo

PublicistID: 25

Published Date: 8/28/2026 10:15 AM

Senator/Representatives: Rep. Samuel Azzinaro;

NewsHighlightFlag: No

SenRepBioPageFlag: Yes

Status: Approved

Description: STATE HOUSE – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly) and Governor Daniel McKee will hold a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. behind 200 Dyer Street in downtown Providence, along the Providence River, to announce the future site of the Vietnam Memorial monument.

Chairman Azzinaro has chaired the Vietnam Memorial Commission and has been working with government and private officials to secure this site for a fitting memorial to Rhode Island’s Vietnam War Veterans.

Additional parking will be at the RI IX Memorial on the grass across from the HAY building at 129 Dyer Street if necessary.  For additional information, contact James DeCastro at jdecastro@rilegislature.gov.

MigrationFlag: 1

ContactInformationFlag: 0

NewsYear: 2026