Rhode Island's FY2027 Budget Signing and Related State Watch Items

On June 12, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed the state's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, totaling $15.2 billion, at a Providence childcare center, marking the conclusion of a six-month legislative session. The budget took effect July 1, 2026, and established Rhode Island's first-ever Child Tax Credit, a refundable $330 credit per child expected to provide about $47 million in annual tax relief to more than 70,000 families. It also eliminated the state tax on Social Security income for roughly 9,200 early retirees who were not previously exempt, and included a bond package with $275 million designated for higher education facilities. According to News From The States, a three-year moratorium on new charter schools received final legislative approval less than 24 hours before the budget signing, though this provision was not confirmed by the Governor's Office release. The budget did not include every item from McKee's original proposal, though specifics on omitted items were not detailed in the available reporting. Separately, on July 22, 2026, McKee signed an executive order establishing the 37th Governor's Bay Day, set for July 24-26, which provides free parking at Rhode Island State Beaches, permits saltwater fishing without a license, and includes waived round-trip fares on RIPTA's South County Express Beach Bus. In an unrelated action, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed an executive order on July 16, 2026, intended to strengthen conflict-of-interest standards for the state's Unclaimed Property Task Force, described as part of a broader series of governance actions taken by his administration that month. No further details on the task force order's specific provisions or implementation timeline were provided. The relationship, if any, between the Rhode Island and Delaware items remains unclear, as they involve different states, officials, and subject matter grouped only by publication category.