2026 -- H 7257

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LC003657

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- ESTABLISHING A STATE SPENDING

GROWTH LIMIT BASED ON INFLATION OR PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH

     Introduced By: Representatives Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Santucci, Paplauskas, J.
Brien, Quattrocchi, Hopkins, and Fascia

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     RESOLVED, That a majority of members elected to each house of the general assembly

voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the State be proposed to the

qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the Constitution

for their approval and that Article VI of the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island be hereby

amended by adding thereto a new section as follows:

     Section 23. State spending growth limit.

     The total appropriations authorized by the general assembly from all sources of revenue

in the annual state budget shall not increase in any fiscal year by an amount greater than the

greater of:

     (1) The percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-

U) for the most recent calendar year; or

     (2) The percentage increase in Rhode Island personal income for the most recent calendar

year.

     Exceptions to this limit shall be established by law and may include, but shall not be

limited to, expenditures for debt service, federal funds required to be spent by law, emergency

expenditures approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general assembly, and any other

exceptions as prescribed by law.

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall cause the proposed amendment to be

submitted to the electors of the state for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general

election in the manner required by the Constitution and laws of the state. The voting places in the

several cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for

general officers of the state; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall cause the said proposition of amendment

to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the

said meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or

notices to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town,

ward, or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, city, ward, or district

meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the town, city, ward, and district meetings to be held as aforesaid shall

be warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and

district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law or the town, city,

ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- ESTABLISHING A STATE SPENDING

GROWTH LIMIT BASED ON INFLATION OR PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH

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     This resolution would propose a constitutional amendment to establish a state spending

growth limit based on inflation or personal income growth.

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LC003657

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