| Mr. Speaker, Madam President, legislators, General Officers, Chief Justice, and members of the Judiciary, municipal leaders, my wife, Susan, and my daughter, Kara—thank you for being here.
My fellow Rhode Islanders:
Exactly one month ago today, our state experienced an unthinkable tragedy, one that took the lives of two Brown University students and placed many others in harm’s way.
As a parent, I think about the families who received the worst call imaginable. Our hearts remain with them and the entire Brown community.
My goal now is to help college students, faculty, and staff feel safe in their learning environments.
That’s why my administration convened leaders from all Rhode Island colleges and universities to review security protocols.
And that’s why we’re coordinating mental health providers across the state so anyone who needs help has access.
There aren’t words to fully express the gratitude I feel for the countless people who stepped forward during this painful time.
To the first responders, law enforcement, hospital staff, mental health workers, and community members who showed their best selves during the worst of times.
And to Mayor Smiley and Chief Perez, whose steady leadership guided us through the darkest hours…
Rhode Island thanks you.
In the five years I’ve served as your Governor, I’ve learned that every decision we make in this building ultimately reaches one place: the homes where Rhode Island families come together.
That’s been true not just here in our state, but throughout our nation, for 250 years.
As we approach our country’s milestone anniversary, I’m reminded that the true heart of our nation isn’t in the halls of power, but in the homes of everyday Americans.
The work we do in this building matters—but I think we can all agree that the real heart of Rhode Island is in the homes where families are thinking about their futures and the future of our state.
Right now, I know that a lot of families are questioning what the future holds.
They turn on the TV or scroll through social media, and they’re concerned about what the months and years ahead may bring.
I understand that, because my own family is having those same conversations.
But as your Governor, when it comes to the state of our state, here’s what I know for certain:
Rhode Islanders always have each other’s backs.
And no matter what comes our way:
Rhode Island is strong. Rhode Island is steady. And together, we’re building a future worth fighting for.
In the years ahead, we will keep fighting for the future Rhode Islanders deserve.
We will keep Rhode Island building, and our economy growing.
We will help our children reach their full potential.
We will put more money back in families’ pockets and raise incomes in every home.
And we will work together to fight back against harmful policies from the Trump administration, protecting our most vulnerable and defending Rhode Island’s economy and values.
When I was working on this upcoming budget, I was thinking about the costs that keep Rhode Islanders up at night, the costs we must lower to keep our state competitive and growing.
But while we’re working to bring costs down, President Trump has made life more expensive at every turn.
His erratic tariff policies have swept through the economy, raising prices on groceries and household goods. [1]
In the first eight months of the Trump presidency, the average household paid an additional $700 due to higher costs. [2]
As Governor, I’m not going to stand by and let President Trump price Rhode Islanders out of their way of life.
Because Rhode Island’s future is one worth fighting for—and that future should be affordable for all. That’s long been one of my highest priorities.
Since I’ve been Governor, I’ve worked with the General Assembly to ensure Rhode Islanders no longer pay a car tax. [3]
Veterans no longer pay a state tax on their military pensions. [4]
Most businesses no longer pay a tangible tax. [5]
Many students are paying less for tuition because we made RI Promise permanent at the Community College of Rhode Island [6] and we created the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College. [7]
Seniors are paying fewer taxes on their retirement income because we raised the exemption—twice. [8]
We cut $35 million [9] from electric and gas bills by suspending an energy tax. [10]
We delivered $20 million in savings to businesses large and small this year by lowering the unemployment insurance tax rate. [11]
And we put $40 million directly back in families’ pockets with a child tax rebate. [12]
Tonight, I am excited to propose Rhode Island’s first Affordability for All agenda that will keep $215 million in Rhode Islanders’ pockets in the first full year—and $1.4 billion over the next five years!
This plan will touch every household in our state.
I’ll propose creating Rhode Island’s first permanent child tax credit, lowering the gas tax, reducing the charges on your electric bill, lowering health care costs, and eliminating the tax on social security.
Tonight, I want to speak directly with Rhode Islanders about my Affordability for All agenda.
Let me start by talking with seniors who rely on this benefit.
Rhode Island is one of only eight states that taxes Social Security.
Let’s change that.
AARP Rhode Island is here in the gallery tonight. They’ve been fighting this fight for many years because they know that eliminating this tax will keep retirees in our state, contributing to our economy and improving their quality of life.
We’ve cut costs for seniors before. Now, let’s keep delivering.
I’m proud to announce that my budget will put forward a plan to eliminate the state tax on Social Security once and for all.
Next, I want to speak with Rhode Islanders who are raising children in our state. The cost of raising a child is climbing faster than ever.
Childcare costs more. [13] Groceries cost more. Even school supplies cost more, and families nationwide are feeling that pressure.
Nashaly is here tonight. She and her family understand all too well the hardships many Rhode Islanders face in trying to keep up with the rising cost of living.
When they couldn’t afford childcare for their youngest, she and her husband worked split shifts to try and take care of their child.
It shouldn’t be this hard.
Supporting young families like Nashaly’s is essential to building a strong economy. The RIght from the Start coalition understands that, and they’re here in the gallery tonight.
We’ve provided tax relief to families before, and now, we’re expanding the dependent deduction to create Rhode Island’s first permanent Child Tax Credit. With $325 per child available, we’ll be giving more money to more families!
To Rhode Island drivers: last year’s gas tax increase pushed Rhode Island to the 10th highest in the country. [14]
When it comes to filling up your tank, every dollar matters. That’s why my budget will roll back last year’s gas tax increase, delivering nearly $9 million in relief at the pump every year going forward.
To every Rhode Islander who pays an energy bill: I want to talk with you next. Rhode Island has the fourth-highest residential electricity rates in the nation. [15]
We cannot let this continue.
I know that families are at their breaking point when it comes to energy costs. That’s why in December I was pleased to see the Public Utilities Commission vote—at my request—to provide $21 million in cuts to your energy bill this year.
My budget will deliver even more energy relief. We’ll reform and reduce the 25 percent of your energy bill that comes from state programs and taxes. These changes will align us with our neighboring states and lower your bill.
My budget will deliver over $1 billion in energy relief over the next five years.
We can’t forget that against the backdrop of rising costs, our ability to generate affordable energy in our own backyard has been threatened by the Trump Administration—twice.
But just yesterday a judge once again found that the Trump administration’s most recent stop work order was baseless, clearing the way for workers to get back on the job.
Tony is here with us tonight. He’s a Building Futures graduate, a member of Carpenters Local 330, and he earned his offshore wind credentials through our Real Jobs RI program.
Tony stood with us last August when Rhode Islanders came together to push back against federal interference with Revolution Wind.
Tony, until this project is complete, IÂ will stand shoulder to shoulder with my fellow Democratic governors and put the full weight of our state behind this fight.
Let me be clear: We will not back down.
I’m talking to all Rhode Islanders when I say the cost of health care is too high.
My budget will hold private health insurers accountable by setting enforceable caps on costs, with penalties for any company that does not comply. That’s good news for all Rhode Islanders.
Those who buy insurance through HealthSource RI are facing rising costs or a loss of coverage due to the inaction of Washington Republicans.
Keeping our uninsured rate as low as possible is important to all of us because it helps stabilize our health insurance costs, and lessens the risk placed on our healthcare system.
That’s why my budget will invest $9.5 million to create the state’s first Marketplace Affordability program to support the 20,000 Rhode Islanders who are at the greatest risk of losing their HealthSourceRI coverage.
When it comes to Affordability for All, we can’t forget about the rising costs of higher education.
I want to share Sonya’s story with you.
She’s a senior graduating from Rhode Island College this spring, and she’ll be one of the first students to earn a degree in artificial intelligence from RIC.
For Sonya’s independent study project, she applied AI to help identify pneumonia in lung X-rays. That’s incredible!
Who knows what other innovations students will be able to create with access to higher learning and new tools at the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies that I launched with Congressman Langevin.
Like more than 500 of her peers, Sonya is also a Hope Scholarship recipient. I want to make sure more students like Sonya can afford to go to college.
That’s why, as part of my Affordability for All agenda, I’m making the Hope Scholarship permanent for every qualifying student — no matter their income.
To my colleagues in the General Assembly: I ask you to join me.
Let’s all have Rhode Islanders’ backs. Let’s pass the Affordability for All agenda. Let’s keep $215 million in people’s pockets in a single year. And let’s keep fighting for the affordable future Rhode Islanders deserve.
Last fall, President Trump used hunger as a bargaining chip and held SNAP benefits hostage.
In that moment, Rhode Islanders did what we always do. We came together and we took care of each other.
My administration made millions of dollars available to support families, directed emergency funding to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, and brought partners together for a statewide push to feed our neighbors.
I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Matos for being out in the community, ensuring residents received the information they needed.
I also want to recognize the staff at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services who answered my call to action to ensure residents received 100% of their SNAP benefits as quickly as possible. That’s public service at its best.
Melissa from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and George from the Elisha Project are here tonight. Together, their teams distributed over 2.5 million pounds of food during the SNAP shutdown alone.
Let’s give Melissa and George—and every volunteer, nonprofit, faith leader, state employee, and neighbor—a round of applause for having Rhode Islanders backs!
While we work to deliver Affordability for All, we must also fight for a future where there’s opportunity for all.
At the heart of opportunity is a four-letter word: J-O-B-S. Jobs.
Since the start of my administration, over 36,000 private sector jobs have been added to our economy, with many more in the pipeline.
At Fidelity in Smithfield, Regent in North Kingstown, Amazon in Johnston, Breeze Airways in Warwick, Organogenesis in Smithfield, Anduril in North Kingstown, Blount Fine Foods in Warren, Norpak in South Kingstown, Flux Marine in Bristol, and that’s just to name a few!
Tonight, I’m proud to welcome John Galvin, President and CEO of AAA Northeast.
Just a few months ago, AAA’s insurance business, Motor Club Insurance, made a big commitment to Rhode Island. John and his team picked Rhode Island over Massachusetts for their expansion, which comes with 370 new jobs for our state.
John, you made the right choice. Thank you for choosing Rhode Island!
The founders of Vatn Systems in Bristol, Nelson and Freddie Mills, are here with us tonight.
When Vatn needed to relocate to a facility large enough to produce more than 2,000 autonomous underwater vehicles each year [16], they chose to stay in Rhode Island. Just last week, they acquired another startup working in maritime defense.
Vatn’s work is driving innovation and creating good-paying jobs right here in Rhode Island. Nelson and Freddie, thank you for choosing the Ocean State.
We’re not just attracting new companies and helping existing businesses grow. We’re putting people to work, building projects that will pay dividends for generations to come.
Projects like Centreville Bank Stadium; URI’s Bay Campus, 150 Richmond and our new State Health Lab, the State Police Southern Barracks, DCYF’s facility for girls in Exeter, New schools across our state; Rhode Island Air National Guard’s new headquarters, and major upgrades to the Port of Galilee and the Port of Davisville.
Keep Rhode Island building: that’s one of the best ways to protect our economy from national downturns.
We are rebuilding Rhode Island with good, prevailing-wage union jobs that support strong families and bright futures across our state.
That’s why my budget will call for $600 million in bond proposals to “Keep Rhode Island Building,†by investing in infrastructure across our state – for business, higher education, K-12, and housing.
First, I’m proposing a $115 million economic development bond to expand maritime and defense infrastructure at Quonset, invest in the 195 District and life sciences, grow our ocean-tech industry, and develop more construction-ready sites that attract advanced manufacturers and create jobs.
Secretary Amore is here tonight.
Secretary, in the year of America’s 250th anniversary, let’s set the stage to build a State History Center right here on Capitol Hill and finally give Rhode Island’s history—and our copies of the Declaration of Independence—the home they deserve. That’s in my bond proposal this year.
We’re also investing in higher education to keep Rhode Island building and learning.
I’d like to recognize our state college and university presidents for their partnership.
President Parlange from URI, the number one public university in New England two years in a row.
President Warner from RIC, where they just welcomed the largest freshman class in 15 years.
And President Costigan, the first CCRI graduate to serve as president. She has big things in store for that school. And we do too!
For too long, these schools didn’t get the upgrades they deserved. My administration changed that.
Together with this General Assembly, we delivered historic investments in state-of-the-art facilities where students learn and innovate.
Now, let’s keep Rhode Island building.
My budget will call for a $215-million higher education bond to support new or upgraded facilities at all three state schools, modernizing campuses and preparing students for good-paying jobs.
When we talk about a future worth fighting for, we’re talking about fighting for the opportunities our children deserve.
That’s why, through our Learn365RI initiative, we’ve made historic investments in K-12 education both in and out of the classroom.
Those investments include 21 Community Learning Centers throughout the state that will help improve educational outcomes as well as support job development and health.
A shoutout to all the municipal leaders who have signed education compacts with me and are working with us to deliver these resources to their hometowns.
For the third year in a row, we’ve reduced chronic absenteeism, adding 3.7 million hours of student learning through our Attendance Matters initiative. [17]
Thanks to this work—and the hard work of our teachers, staff, parents, students, and RIDE—Harvard’s Education Recovery Scorecard confirmed Rhode Island is leading New England in academic recovery from the pandemic.
And we’ve closed the achievement gap with Massachusetts by 39% in reading and 29% in math since the start of my administration.
There are two students here tonight who are great examples of the progress we are making in education.
Janell is a 6th grader at Harry Kizirian in Providence, and she had perfect attendance last year. Ben is a 7th grader at Nathan Bishop in Providence and last year, he had perfect attendance and perfect RICAS scores in math and reading. Let’s give them both a big round of applause.
This year, we’ll keep delivering for students across our state.
Since the start of my administration, Rhode Island has added nearly 100 new Career and Technical Education programs, with enrollment increasing by nearly 3,000 students.
Chris Richard, a plumbing and pipefitting teacher at Cranston East, is here with us tonight.
I had the opportunity to see some of his work in action when I attended Electric Boat’s Signing Day, where 225 students from across our state took the first step toward a career in shipbuilding. We want to expand opportunities like that.
That’s why I’m proposing Rhode Island’s first dedicated CTE bond, $50 million to build and upgrade CTE classrooms across the state, giving students the space, equipment, and resources they need to succeed in high-demand careers and good-paying jobs.
Chris, stand up, thanks for your work!
I can’t stand here tonight and talk about Affordability for All without talking about housing.
For nearly 20 years, Rhode Island didn’t have a statewide plan to build the homes our families needed. But my administration changed that.
We launched Housing 2030, Rhode Island’s first statewide housing plan in almost two decades. Our goal is 15,000 new homes by the end of 2030—nearly double the rate Rhode Island achieved in the past.
Together with this General Assembly, we made the single largest investment in housing in our state’s history, and with the support of Rhode Island voters, we passed Rhode Island’s largest housing bond.
But it’s not time to take our foot off the pedal. It’s time to keep Rhode Island building and fighting for the housing we deserve.
My budget will propose another $120-million housing bond to boost supply and drive down costs, with $25 million dedicated to increasing homeownership.
And later this month, I’ll be launching a separate $20-million homeownership program aimed at supporting the production of hundreds of low-cost homes across our state.
A shoutout to Treasurer Diossa, who recently launched AnchorHome to give first-time homebuyers more affordable mortgage options. It’s been a great success!
My infrastructure priority is to work with one of the top bridge builders in the country to build a new Washington Bridge as quickly as possible.
I know how frustrating this situation has been for commuters. As I hear that frustration, I want to be clear: we will never compromise when it comes to your safety. That is a promise I made in 2023, and a promise I make again today.
To continue that commitment to safety, my budget will include additional engineering oversight at the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to review inspection reports and ensure an abrupt closure like this never happens again.
Last year, we made meaningful progress toward a new bridge, securing $220 million in federal funding [18], filing all rebuild permits and actively preparing for construction.
Today, I can say that the Washington Bridge is on track to be completed two years sooner than Maryland’s Key Bridge. [19]
And while we’re talking about transportation, I want to recognize the leadership and board members at RIPTA. They’ve begun to stabilize the agency’s finances and put RIPTA on a stronger footing for the future.
My budget will fully close RIPTA’s remaining $14 million deficit, helping to ensure long-term stability moving forward.
Let’s talk about a healthy Rhode Island for a moment. President Trump’s budget threatens Medicaid coverage for over 30,000 Rhode Islanders.
No state can fully backfill all the federal cuts coming our way, but as my administration demonstrated during the SNAP crisis, we will act with compassion and use our limited resources to protect the most vulnerable.
To help protect the health safety net for all Rhode Islanders, my budget will direct $10 million in state and federal funds to boost support to hospitals as they prepare for an increase in patients who no longer have health insurance.
We will also invest nearly $20 million to ensure the state complies with new federal rules and helps Medicaid recipients stay insured.
As a former Mayor, I know firsthand that our local senior centers play an important role in keeping seniors active, engaged and healthy.
That’s why every year for the last four years, my budget has increased senior center funding. In fact, since I’ve been Governor, we’ve doubled that investment. This year, my budget will keep delivering for seniors by increasing this funding once again.
Just weeks ago, we secured over $156 million in federal funding to transform health care in 18 communities across Rhode Island. [20]
Using this money, we will significantly expand primary care and behavioral health. We’ll increase supports for opioid overdose prevention and recovery because we know one life lost to this epidemic is one too many.
We’ll invest in hospitals, strengthen our workforce, and make health care more accessible and affordable for Rhode Islanders.
Speaking of health care, my administration will continue to work with the General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office to do everything in our power to ensure that Fatima and Roger Williams stay open for the dedicated staff and the many Rhode Islanders who rely on them for care.
As Washington Republicans cut nutrition benefits for 2,300 Rhode Island households, my budget will double the state grant to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
And as they reduce funding for women’s health, my budget adds funding to Planned Parenthood. Their team is with us in the gallery tonight. Together, these actions will ensure vital health and nutrition support continues to reach those who need it.
Rhode Islanders have proven time and time again that we have each other’s backs.
As we all think about the future of our state over the next few years, this is my commitment to you:
Together, we will stand up to President Trump when he tries to take away Rhode Islanders’ health care, food assistance, jobs, or the programs that families rely on.
We will work on your behalf to create opportunity for our children in and out of the classroom. We will work to raise incomes in every home. We will work to keep Rhode Islanders housed and healthy.
We will deliver Affordability for All.
I am asking the people of our state to join me, and together, we will continue to build the future Rhode Island deserves—because Rhode Island’s future is one worth fighting for. |
