RI Lawmakers Will Tackle State Budget This Week

PROVIDENCE, RI — Both the Rhode Island House of Representatives and Senate are set to meet this week to discuss the long-awaited state budget, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The House of Representatives will meet in-person first, gathering at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. The House Finance Committee approved the so-called "skinny budget" last week, which includes funding to help Rhode Islanders handle the financial impacts of the pandemic. During this session, the House is also set to discuss several other key issues, including the Supreme Court appointments of Superior Court Judge Melissa A. Long and former Sen. Erin Lynch Prata to fill the seats being vacated by justices Francis Flaherty and Gilbert Indeglia.

On Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to take up the budget, if it is approved the day before by the full House. The meeting will be held virtually at 3 p.m., and can be watched live online.

If the budget is approved by the finance committee, it will be considered by the full Senate Friday afternoon. The session, which will be held at 2 p.m. at Rhode Island College's Sapinsley Hall, was rescheduled from Thursday due to the impending snowstorm.

Along with the budget, the Senate is also set to discuss Supreme Court nominees, along with those for the Superior, Workers’ Compensation, and Family courts.

All sessions will be closed to the public due to COVID-19 safety restrictions, and can be watched live online.

Read more: 6 Months Into The Fiscal Year, RI On Its Way To A State Budget