Friend,
After months of hearings, many hours of floor sessions, and votes on hundreds of bills, the 2023 legislative session has drawn to a close.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Senate members, staff, advocates, and many others, we accomplished a great deal over the course of the session. Together, we have made real progress for our state, and we have much to celebrate.
Here are a few of the highlights from this year’s session:
1) Providing tangible personal property tax relief. The tangible tax is a financial burden for small businesses and an administrative headache for municipalities. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Melissa Murray, a new $50,000 exemption will completely eliminate this tax for about 75 percent of businesses – and every business will see a lower tax bill. Cities and towns, meanwhile, will be made whole. This important tax relief will help Rhode Island businesses – and especially small businesses – grow and thrive. That benefits all of us.
2) Strengthening workforce development. The Rhode Island Hope Scholarship pilot program championed by Majority Leader Ryan Pearson will create new opportunities for students and advance our efforts to build a strong 21st century workforce in the Ocean State. This program, which covers two years of tuition and fees for eligible juniors and seniors at Rhode Island College, is a great investment in our state’s future and a boost for one of our most important educational institutions.
3) Taking action to prevent lead poisoning. No family should have to fear that their home or their drinking water may be putting them at risk of lead exposure. We know how serious the health effects of lead can be, especially for children. We are proud that this year, the General Assembly approved Senate President Dominick Ruggerio’s legislation to replace all public and private lead water supply service lines within a decade, along with bills sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Valarie Lawson, Senator Tiara Mack, and Senator Jonathon Acosta to combat childhood lead poisoning and address lead hazards in homes across Rhode Island.
4) Standing up for public health. Health & Human Services Committee Chairman Josh Miller is a true champion for protecting the rights of patients, expanding access to health care, and strengthening social services. His legislation to codify consumer protections provided by the federal Affordable Care Act in state law ensures our state will stand up for patients regardless of what happens in Washington. And that’s just one of Chairman Miller’s many important achievements.
5) Charting RI’s solar future. Senate Environment & Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Alana DiMario has been a champion and leader on many important issues during her time in the General Assembly. Her legislation to protect Rhode Island’s forests while setting the stage for the continued growth of solar energy in our state was a major victory late in this year’s session, and we are committed to continue building a cleaner and more resilient future for our state.
6) Meeting today’s educational needs. The state budget for Fiscal 2024 includes the most meaningful reforms to the state education funding formula since its adoption more than a decade ago. Our work is not done, but the important steps taken in the budget set us on a path for further reforms over the next two years. Leader Pearson has been a champion on this front, along with President Gallo, Senator Sandra Cano, Senator Jonathon Acosta, and Senator Sam Zurier.
There are many other achievements from this past session deserving of recognition and celebration, and you can learn more about them here. We are fortunate to have an incredibly talented and dedicated team in the Senate, and we thank everyone whose efforts contributed to this year’s important accomplishments.
It has been a trying year, as well, following the loss of our beloved Majority Whip, Maryellen Goodwin. We will never forget Maryellen, and we will strive to honor her service and legacy through our continued work on behalf of the state we all love.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a wonderful summer.
Sincerely,
The RI Senate Leadership Team