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3/24/2026
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Sen. Ujifusa and Rep. Donovan introduce legislation to facilitate re-opening beds at Rhode Island Veterans Home
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STATE HOUSE – Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. Susan R. Donovan have introduced legislation to address staffing shortages at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol and ensure the facility can safely operate at or near full capacity.
The legislation, the Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026 (2026-S 2753, 2026-H 8124), establishes a structured process to analyze workforce challenges and propose targeted solutions.
The Rhode Island Veterans Home is a state-operated long-term care facility that provides skilled nursing and residential services to veterans.
Currently, the facility is operating below its licensed capacity due to workforce shortages, including shortages of nurses, certified nursing assistants and support staff. Maximum capacity is 208 beds. The 32-bed Foxtrot wing closed in the wake of the pandemic. In 2025, there were a total of 50 beds not open.
“Everyone agrees that we must not let Foxtrot remain closed,” said Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D–Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol). “But there has been a cycle since COVID of hiring and then losing staff that has forced up to 50 beds to stay closed, and we must break that cycle.”
Explains Representative Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), “This bill simply requires the Department of Administration, in coordination with the Department of Health, the Office of Veterans Services, and Veterans Home leadership, to conduct a comprehensive workforce analysis to look at wage competitiveness, commute and housing barriers, scheduling flexibility and other relevant factors, and make a corrective action plan to safely reopen closed beds.”
Both sponsors say they greatly appreciate the hardworking staff at the Veterans’ Home, and that they deserve the support that comes with having a full staff.
The bill has the support of patients, veterans’ groups, labor unions and other advocacy groups.
“As a veteran and longtime volunteer at the home, I know how much these veterans have sacrificed for our country and they deserve the care and dignity we promised them. This bill keeps moving us forward,” said Wally Coelho, past state commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) East Bay Chapter, and a frequent volunteer at the Veterans Home.
The bills have been referred to the Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the Senate and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the House for consideration. Testimony for the bills may be submitted to slegislation@rilegislature.gov (Senate) and HouseVeteransAffairs@rilegislature.gov (House). Testimony becomes a public document.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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