We were delighted to see that the FY 2027 budget passed by the House Finance Committee last Friday includes many items that will support children and families. We need to ensure that these important investments remain in the final budget.

Early Care and Education

• Child care assistance program income eligibility increased from 261% to 285% Federal Poverty Level
• Child care infant rates increased by 5%
• The Child Care for Child Care Educators program extended through 2030

Child Development

• State funds allocated to fund family home visiting will allow full drawdown of available federal funds
• By 2028, children born between May 1-August 31 can remain in Early Intervention until September 1 after their third birthday

Health Care Access

• Full increases recommended by OHIC (Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner) to Medicaid rates, First Connections, Health Families America, and Early Intervention

Mental Health

• MomsPRN and PediPRN fully funded for FY 2027

RI Works

• Child support pass-through for RI Works recipients increased from $50 to $100 for one child and $200 for two or more children

Family Economic Security

• Tax on millionaires phased in over three years with a 1% increase each year over three years
• Includes the state's first permanent and fully refundable Child Tax Credit of $330/child and retention of existing dependent exemption

Public Education

• $25M over Governor's proposal for education funding, including increasing the student success factor to 43%
• $100k for the Rhode Island Afterschool Network to support afterschool programs

As the Rhode Island General Assembly prepares to adjourn the 2026 legislative session on June 12, lawmakers are making final decisions about which bills will advance. There is still time to make your voice heard. The final days of the legislative session are critical. Your advocacy can help ensure these important priorities cross the finish line. 

Please contact your State Representative and State Senator directly. Visit vote.ri.gov to find your elected officials.


Also contact House leadership: Speaker Blazejewski: rep-blazejewski@rilegislature.gov (401-222-2466) We hope the House will pass the following measures:

• Strengthen Rhode Island’s paid family leave program by expanding support for caregivers and providing additional weeks of leave (H-7968 by Giraldo, S-2737 SubA by Lawson)
• Protect and expand access to vaccines (H-7625 by Donovan)
• Establish a minimum age of incarceration (H-7818 by Stewart)
• Support high-quality afterschool programming through BOOST bill (H-7501 by Shallcross Smith)

We also encourage you to contact Senate leadership: President Lawson: sen-lawson@rilegislature.gov (401-222-4901). We hope the Senate will pass the following measures:

• Establish a minimum age of incarceration (S-2046 by Acosta)
• Increase the use of Juvenile Hearing Boards as a developmentally appropriate alternative to formal court involvement (S-2940 by Vargas)
• Support high-quality afterschool programming through BOOST bill (S-2452 by DiMario)

Support our continued work

• Donate to ensure that we continue our important advocacy in early childhood development, education, health, youth justice, safety and child welfare and equity-driven policies

Hard copies of the 2026 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook 
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Rhode Island KIDS COUNT advances equitable policies that improve the lives of all Rhode Island children and eliminate disparities through the power of data, advocacy, and civic action. www.rikidscount.org