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S2559 • 2026

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (Appropriates the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.)

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (Appropriates the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.)

Budget
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bissaillon, LaMountain, McKenney, Britto, Dimitri, Mack, DiPalma
Last action
2026-05-12
Official status
Committee heard
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (Appropriates the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.)

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC.

What This Bill Does

  • JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
  • (Appropriates the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-12 Committee

    Committee heard

  2. 2026-05-08 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/12/2026)

  3. 2026-02-13 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Official Summary Text

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES, INC. (Appropriates the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
S2559

2026 -- S 2559
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LC005186
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES,
INC.

Introduced By:
Senators Bissaillon, LaMountain, McKenney, Britto, Dimitri, Mack, and
DiPalma

Date Introduced:
February 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
1
WHEREAS, Each year, thousands of hardworking low-income Rhode Island families,
2
victims of domestic violence, Veterans, and older residents depend on Rhode Island Legal
3
Services, Inc. for legal representation and assistance; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization with statewide
5
operations; and
6
WHEREAS, In 2025, Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. opened 5,805 cases and closed
7
4,713; and
8
WHEREAS, Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. has prioritized helping Rhode Islanders
9
obtain safe, affordable housing, income maintenance and food, a healthy community, family
10
preservation and safety, financial stability, high-quality and appropriate education, and
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employment and workers’ rights; and
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WHEREAS, Since its founding, Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. has helped over two
13
hundred thousand Rhode Islanders lead safe, productive, and self-sufficient lives; now, therefore
14
be it
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RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not
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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of three million dollars
17
($3,000,000) to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.; and the state controller is hereby directed to
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draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof

1
as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.
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LC005186 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $3,000,000 TO RHODE ISLAND LEGAL SERVICES,
INC.
***
1
This resolution would appropriate the sum of $3,000,000 to Rhode Island Legal Services,
2
Inc.
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LC005186
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