Rhode Island
House Finance Committee Approves $13.947 Billion Budget for 2025, Emphasizing Education, Healthcare, and Affordable Housing – Newport Buzz
The Rhode Island House Finance Committee voted 13-1 Friday to approve a $13.947 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year, directing substantial funding toward education, children, and healthcare, alongside a historic $120 million affordable housing bond. The budget, which is $60 million less than the current fiscal year’s, reflects the cessation of federal pandemic aid.
The budget bill (2023-H 5200A) now advances to the full House of Representatives, set for consideration on June 7 at 2:30 p.m.
“Through this budget, we are emphasizing education at every level and supporting children,” stated Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick). “This budget is the result of a truly collaborative process between my colleagues here in the House, the dedicated members of the House Finance Committee, our partners in the Senate, and Governor McKee and his team to carefully create a plan that meets Rhode Island’s needs for education, students, and children first, while addressing our challenges, such as housing and health care.”
House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) added, “This year’s budget proposal reflects the fact that while the influx of federal pandemic funding has come to an end, Rhode Island is still on sound financial footing. We have continued to best position Rhode Island for future economic possibilities. This budget supports our residents, families, and children without adding financial burdens on the people of Rhode Island.”
The proposed budget includes a $70.9 million increase in state aid for schools, which is $33.8 million more than Governor McKee originally proposed, aimed at aiding schools and students still recovering from the pandemic’s effects.
Increases for multi-language learners (MLL), the governor’s Learn365RI initiative for out-of-school learning, and efforts to boost reading and math achievement were modest but significant. MLL students will now receive 20% extra over the core education aid, up from 15%. Learn365RI will get $5 million, and an additional $5 million is allocated for reading and math achievement. The budget also fully funds an $813,000 proposal to provide free meals to 6,500 students statewide who currently receive reduced-price school meals.
Higher education also sees benefits with an additional $1 million for the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and $2 million for the University of Rhode Island (URI). The budget continues the Rhode Island Promise and Hope scholarship programs, which offer two years of free tuition at CCRI and Rhode Island College, respectively, and authorizes a two-year extension of the Hope scholarship. It also allocates $2.3 million for the dual and concurrent enrollment initiative for high school students.
Among the most notable elements is a $120 million affordable housing bond, the largest in the state’s history. This bond includes $90 million for affordable housing, $10 million for acquisition and revitalization, $10 million for homeownership programs, $5 million for site acquisition, $4 million for housing-related infrastructure, and $1 million for municipal planning.
Furthermore, the bill authorizes up to $10 million from the housing bond for public housing, following a six-month study on public developer models.
Healthcare receives significant attention with over $160 million allocated to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates next year, including $3.8 million for Early Intervention providers. Additionally, $10 million in unspent federal COVID funding will be redirected to nursing homes.
The budget proposal also includes a $30.6 million increase to support providers contracted by the Department of Children, Youth and Families and establishes a new program to purchase medical debts for struggling Rhode Islanders through the state Treasurer’s office.
Recipients of the Rhode Island Works program will receive a 20% raise in cash benefits, and eligibility for child care supports will be expanded. The budget also allocates $83.6 million for the state match for federal funds to reconstruct the shuttered westbound Washington Bridge and doubles assistance for businesses in East Providence affected by the bridge closure.
The House plan provides additional funding for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to close a budget gap following the end of federal pandemic aid, ensuring no service reductions in the coming year.
Not included in the budget were proposals to alter the state’s financial institutions tax and funding for a new state archives and museum, due to timing and complexity issues, as well as the lack of an identified site and partner organizations for the museum.
For retirees, the budget includes raising the exemption on certain pension plans and annuities income and repeals the suspension of full annual cost of living adjustments for state employees who retired before 2012. It also changes the calculation for pension benefits to be based on the highest three consecutive years of earnings instead of five.
Environmental initiatives feature in the “green bond” with $5 million for farmland protection and various other allocations for open space and habitat management.
Lastly, the budget includes a $10 million bond referendum to support arts infrastructure in Rhode Island and retains a proposal to hike the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack, while creating a new tax structure for electronic nicotine delivery systems.
The House Finance Committee’s comprehensive budget plan reflects a careful balance of investment in key areas, ensuring Rhode Island’s continued progress and stability amidst the conclusion of federal pandemic aid.
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Related
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
Midday: 6-3-1-0
Evening: 3-7-1-4
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 10 drawing
10-13-27-37-38, Extra: 19
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Governor Dan McKee PHOTO: GoLocal
It’s a new year, filled with new challenges. The General Assembly is back in session. Rhode Island’s economy is flat at best, and according to the University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro, the state is in a recession. Rhode Island is also in daily legal conflict with the Trump administration.
Add that the state is trying to recover from a mass shooting at Brown University, which killed two students and wounded nine others.
For Governor Dan McKee, it is a critical time.
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He has announced he is running for reelection—the Democratic primary is just nine months away.
McKee’s poll numbers have plummeted to record lows.
A poll released by the University of New Hampshire in November of 2025 found that in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island, 29% of likely Democratic primary voters (N=359) say they would currently vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, 13% would vote for Speaker of the RI House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi, 11% would vote for incumbent Governor Dan McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 42% are undecided.
Is the 74-year-old McKee criss-crossing the state to reassure Rhode Islanders, listening to residents’ ideas, and sharing his vision for the state in his second term?
GoLocal offers a recap of the McKees’ public schedule for the first ten days of the month.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026
No public events.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026
2:00 PM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 18th Annual Interfaith Poverty Vigil.
LOCATION:
RI State House Rotunda
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
No public events.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026
No public events.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026
9:30 AM
Governor McKee will deliver remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new community learning center at the Cross’ Mills Public Library.
LOCATION:
Cross’ Mills Public Library
4417 Old Post Road
Charlestown, RI
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 & SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026
No public events.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2026
11:00 AM
Governor McKee will join members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation and local and state leaders for a rally hosted by Climate Action RI, Climate Jobs RI, and the AFL-CIO in support of Revolution Wind and other offshore wind projects.
LOCATION:
CIC Providence
225 Dyer Street
Providence, RI
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2026
No public events.
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Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal
Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.
Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”
The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.
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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.
“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.
Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”
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