Rhode IslandH85292026 Regular SessionHouse

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND LIFE SCIENCE HUB ACT .

Sponsored By: Jacquelyn M. Baginski (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.

Commission jobs lack state pensions

If you work for the I‑195 commission, you are not a state or city employee. You do not earn state or city pension benefits while employed by the commission. The executive director job must be advertised, approved in a public meeting, and new members must complete ethics training within six months.

Old life‑science credits kept; program ended

The life‑science jobs incentive program ended on December 31, 2021. If your company was in the district, qualified on or before that date, and kept its certification, the tax credits you acquired stay valid for 10 years from your qualification date.

New help for life‑science companies

The law creates the Rhode Island Life Science Hub. If your life‑science company is certified by the Hub, you can compete for grants, loans, or investments. The Hub can also help you go after federal, state, or nonprofit money and set up clinical trials. Any grant, loan, or incentive needs a board vote, and the chair must be present and voting for certification or funding decisions.

Faster one‑stop permits in I‑195

Inside the I‑195 district, the commission is the only permitting authority. The State Fire Marshal and State Building Code Commissioner must issue needed safety and building permits and work to speed them up. The commission can use accelerated or phased reviews and allow some work to start before final permits or designs. It must set design rules with the State Historic Preservation Officer. Permit appeals go to the Rhode Island Superior Court on an accelerated schedule.

No casinos or gambling in district

The commission cannot allow casinos or any gambling in the I‑195 district. A deed restriction that bans gambling must be recorded on each property and binds future owners. Only the General Assembly can remove the ban, subject to constitutional limits.

Abutting land falls under commission

If a project uses both I‑195 surplus land and abutting land under the same ownership, the abutting land is reviewed by the commission, not the city, once the Providence City Council authorizes this by ordinance. Abutting land means parcels that share a property line, not land across a public street.

I‑195 commission ends by 2039

The commission ends when all district properties are developed and sold, or on December 31, 2039, whichever comes first. Its authority then returns to the proper state or local agencies. Any property and leases it still holds move to the Commerce Corporation. District parks may be transferred to a designated nonprofit under the law.

New makeup and powers of commission

The I‑195 commission has seven voting members appointed by the governor with senate approval, using candidate lists from the Providence mayor and House speaker for some seats. The chair of the Life Science Hub joins as a non‑voting member. The commission may meet in private on land deals if disclosure would harm bargaining, but must audio‑record and later release minutes and votes when safe. It cannot create new entities without General Assembly approval, except a nonprofit to manage district parks that has conflict‑of‑interest rules and asset‑return terms.

Rules for the Life Science Hub

The Hub’s board has 17 members with specific public and institutional seats. The CEO sits on the board but does not vote. The I‑195 commission chair also sits on the board as a non‑voting member. Directors can join meetings by video and still count for quorum and votes. The board hires the CEO with senate approval, can hire staff, must disclose conflicts, and members can be removed by the governor for cause. The Commerce Corporation provides office space for the Hub for at least its first year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jacquelyn M. Baginski
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Scott A. Slater
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 66 • No: 4

House vote • 6/10/2026

RI LIFE SCIENCE HUB ACT PASSAGE