H 8178

2026 -- H 8178
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LC005429
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION
  INVESTMENT AND DEBT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011
  Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Shallcross Smith, Casimiro, Casey, Cruz,
  Solomon, Alzate, Fellela, Serpa, Messier, and Hull
  Date Introduced: February 27, 2026
  Referred To: House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 39-18.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 entitled
2 "Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" is hereby amended to read as follows:
339-18.1-5. Allocation of funds.
4(a) The monies in the highway maintenance fund to be directed to the department of
5 transportation pursuant to § 39-18.1-4(b)(1) — (b)(3) shall be allocated through the transportation
6 improvement program process to provide the state match for federal transportation funds, in place
7 of borrowing, as approved by the state planning council. The expenditure of moneys in the highway
8 maintenance fund shall only be authorized for projects that appear in the state’s transportation
9 improvement program.
10(b) Provided, however, that beginning with fiscal year 2015 and annually thereafter, the
11 department of transportation will allocate necessary funding to programs that are designed to
12 eliminate structural deficiencies of the state’s bridge, road, and maintenance systems and
13 infrastructure.
14(c) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2025, five percent (5%) of
15 available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually
16 to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures.
17(d) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2025, ten percent (10%) of available proceeds in the
18 Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public
1 transit authority for operating expenditures.
2(e) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2026, twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in
3 the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island
4 public transit authority for operating expenditures.
5(e)(f) Provided, further, that from July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, in addition to the
6 amount above, the Rhode Island public transit authority shall receive an amount of not less than
7 five million dollars ($5,000,000) each fiscal year, except for the period July 1, 2019, through June
8 30, 2022, during which such amount or a portion thereof may come from federal coronavirus relief
9 funds.
10SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION
  INVESTMENT AND DEBT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011
  ***
1This act would, effective July 1, 2026, annually allocate twenty percent (20%) of available
2 proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account to RIPTA for operating expenses.
3This act would take effect upon passage.
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