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5/8/2026
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Sen. Ujifusa, Rep. Donovan seek tax credit for family caregivers
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STATE HOUSE — Providing care to an aging parent, spouse, or disabled family member is an act of love and devotion, but it often comes with significant financial, physical, and emotional strain. To help ease that burden, Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. Susan R. Donovan have introduced legislation creating a Rhode Island Family Caregiver Tax Credit.
The legislation (2026-S 2246, 2026-H 7241) would provide eligible Rhode Islanders with a tax credit equal to 50% of qualified caregiving expenses, up to a maximum credit of $1,000. The credit would be available to Rhode Island residents with adjusted gross incomes below $50,000 for individuals or $100,000 for joint filers.
Eligible family members would need to be either age 65 or older or qualify for Social Security disability benefits, live with the caregiver for at least six months of the year, and require assistance with at least two activities of daily living. Qualified covered expenses include home care aides, adult day care, home health equipment, respite care, and home modifications needed for safety and accessibility.
“Caregiving responsibilities disproportionately fall on women, older adults and people who are forced to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely,” said Senator Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol). “Most existing tax policies do not directly address the financial burdens family caregivers face every day.”
Said Representative Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth), who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee, “Family caregivers provide invaluable support that allows many older adults and people with disabilities to remain safely at home rather than enter far more expensive institutional care. Supporting caregivers is not only the right thing to do for families, it is likely a prudent way to reduce state Medicaid costs.”
The legislation is supported by the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI).
“Thousands of unpaid Rhode Island family caregivers provide critical support that keeps loved ones healthy and living at home,” said Maureen Maigret, policy advisor for SACRI. “Other states have already adopted caregiver tax credits or similar policies to help offset out-of-pocket caregiving costs and Rhode Island should as well.”
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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