AN ACT RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- STATE AID TO LIBRARIES (Requires that the state’s share to support public library services in fiscal year 2027 be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended by the city or town in the second preceding fiscal year.)

S2812

2026 -- S 2812
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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 LIBRARIES -- STATE AID TO LIBRARIES

Introduced By:
Senators McKenney, Appollonio, Burke, LaMountain, Murray, Gallo,
Dimitri, and DiMario

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 29-6-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 29-6 entitled "State Aid to
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Libraries" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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29-6-2. Public library services.
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(a) The general assembly makes the following findings:
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(1) The Constitution of the State of Rhode Island Article XII of Education, Section 1 states
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that it "shall be the duty of the general assembly to promote public schools and public libraries, and
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to adopt all means which it may deem necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages
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and opportunities of education and public library services."
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(2) Free public libraries are essential to the general enlightenment of citizens in a
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democracy;
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(3) Free public libraries provide for the cultural, educational, informational, and research
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needs of all citizens;
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(4) Free public libraries are an integral part of the educational system at all levels and a
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source for vocational information and continued learning following the period of formal education;
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(5) It is the responsibility of government at all levels to provide adequate financial support
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for all free public libraries.
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(b)
For each city or town, the state’s share to support local public library services shall be
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equal to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of both the amount appropriated and expended in the
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second preceding fiscal year by the city or town from local tax revenues and funds from the public

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library’s private endowment that supplement the municipal appropriation; provided, however, the
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state in any year shall not be obligated to match any amount from the endowment that exceeds six
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percent (6%) of the three-year (3) average market value, calculated at the end of the calendar year,
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of the investments in the endowment. The amount of the grant payable to each municipality in any
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year in accordance with this section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total of
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those grants in any year exceeds the amount appropriated that year for the purposes of this section.
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(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, in fiscal year 2027, the
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state shall pay each city and town a fixed twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated
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and expended by the city or town in the second preceding fiscal year from local tax revenues and
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from the public library's private endowment that supplement the municipal appropriation for public
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library services.
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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 LIBRARIES -- STATE AID TO LIBRARIES
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This act would require that the state’s share to support public library services in fiscal year
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2027 be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended by the city
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or town in the second preceding fiscal year.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005438 - Page 3 of 3