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The 2012 Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. While there were some modest wins for those who support a bold vision for advancing a sound and meaningful prosperity agenda, the session can largely be characterized as a missed opportunity to capitalize on our many assets.
Here's a summary of outcomes. Join in the discussion on our blog.
Economic Development
State Historic Tax Credit
H-7732, S-2269, S-2313
[Failed]
A range of supporters worked with bill sponsors and the General Assembly leadership during the course of the session to arrive at a consensus bill that could enjoy broad support from many interests. However, as the General Assembly wound down [ More]
Municipal Economic Development Incentive Act
H-7399 / S-2462
[Failed]
This proposal called for amending the existing Property Tax Levy Cap law (RIGL 44-5-2) allowing municipalities to capture a portion of levy growth within locally designated and state-approved "growth centers" (or Main Street districts), provided that .. [ More]
Amending MED Zone Law (44-18-30.C) H-7453 / S-2633
[Failed]
This existing law is intended to assist municipal officials of financially distressed communities in revitalizing deteriorated or blighted areas. The law allows qualified retailers in designated MED (Municipal Economic Development) Zones to charge ½ of the existing sales and use tax ...[ More]
Transportation
Transit Investment Act of 2012
H-7581
[Failed]
In 2011 and 2012 Grow Smart, in coordination with the Coalition for Transportation Choices, developed a responsible and sustainable funding plan for the Department of Transportation and RIPTA. Parts of the plan were enacted by the General Assembly in 2011 as the "Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011", but mass transit has repeatedly been ignored ... [ More]
Complete Streets Act
H-7352 / S-2131
[Passed]
This law, supported by RIDOT, now requires RIDOT to consider "Complete Streets" design concepts for all transportation construction and improvement projects and implement them whenever practical. These concepts promote the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users ... [ More]
Petroleum Savings & Independence Advisory Commission
H-7261 / S-2186
[Passed]
This law will create the 17-member Petroleum Savings & Independence Advisory Commission. The Commission is charged with creating a plan for reducing Rhode Island's total petroleum consumption that equals the ... [ More]
Vulnerable Road Users Act H-7463 / S-2214
[Failed]
The Coalition for Transportation Choices (CTC), which Grow Smart co-chairs, endorsed this bill filed at the request of the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition by state Sen. Susan Sosnowski and State Rep. Teresa Tanzi. Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, bicyclists, emergency responders ... [More]
State Budget - Transportation
H-7323
[Passed]
Other transportation items of interest in the State Budget about which Grow Smart did not take a position include the transfer of the Sakonnet River Bridge to the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority, paving the way for tolling, which ... [ More]
Agriculture and Open Space
Agriculture and Seafood Act
H-7701 / S-2611
[Passed]
The Governor signed into law the Rhode Island Agriculture and Seafood Act on RI Ag Day at the State House. The bill, which was a high priority for the Governor and RIDEM, is considered a major move forward for agricultural and seafood interests. The bill creates a ... [ More]
Ballot Question
[Passed]
Under the budget adopted by the General Assembly, a $20 million "Environmental Management" bond will be placed on the November ballot as Question 4 for voter approval. The Environmental Management bond includes ... [ More]
Housing
Ballot Question
[Passed]
The General Assembly also approved Governor Chafee's proposed $25 million housing bond referendum for the creation of long-term affordable homes.
Other Housing initiatives passed as part of the State Budget approval include:
 The budget supports $800,000 for the Thresholds Program which helps provide homes for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness and disabilities.
The budget also calls for the Office of the Attorney General to utilize $4 million of the $8.6 million in funds the Office will receive from the National Mortgage Servicers Settlement to work with Rhode Island Housing on the development and implementation of a foreclosure assistance program.
Neighborhood Opportunities Program
The budget requires Rhode Island Housing to continue some funding for the Neighborhood Opportunities Program ( NOP) without providing compensating support for other Rhode Island Housing programs that may need to be cut to meet the agency's NOP obligations. |
