2026 -- S 2237

========

LC004175

========

     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 $3,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK

     

     Introduced By: Senators Mack, Acosta, Murray, Bissaillon, DiPalma, Felag, Ciccone,
Thompson, de la Cruz, and Famiglietti

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Finance

1

     WHEREAS, The demand for emergency food assistance reached historic highs in Rhode

2

Island in 2025, with over 102,000 Rhode Islanders receiving assistance from an area food pantry

3

in November of 2025; and

4

     WHEREAS, One in three Rhode Island households are facing food insecurity; and

5

     WHEREAS, Almost 32,000 Rhode Islanders will see their SNAP benefits reduced or

6

stopped altogether due to federal SNAP changes from Congress’s passage of H.R.1 legislation in

7

July of 2025; and

8

     WHEREAS, The loss of SNAP benefits to Rhode Islanders will equal $9.5 million

9

dollars; and

10

     WHEREAS, Individuals who lose SNAP or have reduced benefits will need to rely more

11

on area food pantries; and

12

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Community Food Bank provides food and support to 137

13

member agencies in every area of Rhode Island and has seen their federal support for food

14

already reduced; now, therefore be it

15

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not

16

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of three million dollars

17

($3,000,000) to the Rhode Island Food Bank; and the state controller is hereby authorized and

18

directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much

 

1

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

========

LC004175

========

 

LC004175 - Page 2 of 3

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 $3,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK

***

1

     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $3,000,000 to the Rhode

2

     Island Food Bank.

========

LC004175

========

 

LC004175 - Page 3 of 3