2026 -- H 8271

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LC005958

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO 401 TECH BRIDGE TO STUDY AND

EXPLORE SEAGLIDERS IN RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Finkelman, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: March 11, 2026

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, known as The Ocean State, boasts nearly four

hundred (400) miles of coastline and is home to a wide range of maritime industries, and the

fostering and maintenance of a highly integrated maritime economy in Rhode Island, including

manufacturing and research, serves to reinforce these competitive advantages of The Ocean State;

and

     WHEREAS, The mission of 401 Tech Bridge is to accelerate the development and

commercialization of dual use, innovative technologies within Rhode Island's Blue Economy,

serving as a collaborator to bring together industry leaders, government agencies, and academic

institutions to bridge research and development gaps and connect innovators with commercial

opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, 401 Tech Bridge fosters cross-sector partnerships through state of the art

facilities and programs that drive economic growth and technological advancement in maritime

and defense industries; and

     WHEREAS, Seagliders are a nascent technology being developed in Rhode Island,

integral to its Blue Economy, designed to offer an all-electric, passenger-carrying, wing-in-

ground-effect vehicle built to service coastal routes, building on real-world-proven technology;

and

     WHEREAS, Seagliders are positioned to help support the sustainability and economic

goals of Rhode Island, including eliminating thousands of tons of carbon and GHG emissions

yearly, expanding business and job training opportunities for Rhode Island's local economy,

bolstering Rhode Island's Blue Economy, increasing fast and flexible access to Rhode Island and

other east coast hubs, and providing a sustainable travel option for environmentally conscious

residents, visitors, and tourists of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Seagliders are positioned to help provide Rhode Island residents with

business and workforce opportunities, as well as access to affordable travel, lower cargo costs,

quicker emergency response, and reduced highway congestion, all without any carbon emissions;

and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Seaglider Initiative (RISI) is a coalition of local Rhode

Island government, business, and community stakeholders that aim to assist with the awareness,

understanding, and adoption of seagliders in Rhode Island, including through a core value of

involving local Rhode Island voices and ensuring that the benefits of seagliders are shared by

Rhode Islanders and the entire Rhode Island ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, 401 Tech Bridge is uniquely positioned to support Rhode Island's Blue

Economy, including the development, manufacturing, and use of seagliders, and 401 Tech Bridge

is committed to collaborating with RISI to help study and explore the benefits of seagliders in

Rhode Island; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated to 401 Tech Bridge the sum of one

million dollars ($1,000,000) to study and explore seagliders in Rhode Island, in conjunction with

RISI, including conducting a seaglider feasibility study to understand, assess, and verify the use

and operation of seagliders in Rhode Island in order to position Rhode Island to realize the

benefits of eliminating thousands of tons of carbon and GHG emissions yearly, expanding

business and job training opportunities for Rhode Island's local economy, bolstering Rhode

Island's Blue Economy, increasing fast and flexible access to Rhode Island and other east coast

hubs, and providing a sustainable travel option for environmentally conscious residents, visitors,

and tourists of Rhode Island; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw

their orders upon the general treasurer for payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be

from time to time be required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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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

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO 401 TECH BRIDGE TO STUDY AND

EXPLORE SEAGLIDERS IN RHODE ISLAND

***

     This resolution would make an appropriation of $1,000,000 to 401 Tech Bridge to study

and explore seagliders.

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