AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT AND DEBT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011 (Effective July 1, 2026, annually allocates twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account to RIPTA for operating expenses.)

H8178

2026 -- H 8178
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LC005429
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
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:
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SECTION 1. Section 39-18.1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-18.1 entitled
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"Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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39-18.1-5. Allocation of funds.
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(a) The monies in the highway maintenance fund to be directed to the department of
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transportation pursuant to § 39-18.1-4(b)(1) — (b)(3) shall be allocated through the transportation
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improvement program process to provide the state match for federal transportation funds, in place
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of borrowing, as approved by the state planning council. The expenditure of moneys in the highway
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maintenance fund shall only be authorized for projects that appear in the state’s transportation
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improvement program.
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(b) Provided, however, that beginning with fiscal year 2015 and annually thereafter, the
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department of transportation will allocate necessary funding to programs that are designed to
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eliminate structural deficiencies of the state’s bridge, road, and maintenance systems and
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infrastructure.
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(c) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2025, five percent (5%) of
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available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually
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to the Rhode Island public transit authority for operating expenditures.
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(d) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2025, ten percent (10%) of available proceeds in the
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Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island public

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transit authority for operating expenditures.
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(e) Provided, that beginning July 1, 2026, twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in
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the Rhode Island highway maintenance account shall be allocated annually to the Rhode Island
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public transit authority for operating expenditures.
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(e)
(f)
Provided, further, that from July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, in addition to the
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amount above, the Rhode Island public transit authority shall receive an amount of not less than
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five million dollars ($5,000,000) each fiscal year, except for the period July 1, 2019, through June
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30, 2022, during which such amount or a portion thereof may come from federal coronavirus relief
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funds.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION
INVESTMENT AND DEBT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011
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This act would, effective July 1, 2026, annually allocate twenty percent (20%) of available
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proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account to RIPTA for operating expenses.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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