# Rhode Island H8589: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING LAND ACQUISITION AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029 . Rhode Island H8589, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING LAND ACQUISITION AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029 ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Mary Messier (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8589-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H8589 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING LAND ACQUISITION AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029 . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-05-27 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor - Sponsor: Mary Messier (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 3 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (66 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Unlimited property tax backs these bonds: cost, high. All taxable property in Pawtucket can be taxed without a rate cap to pay these bonds and notes. Each year the city must budget enough to cover principal and interest. If other funds are short, the needed amount is added to the annual tax levy. This can raise tax bills for property owners and may af… - Up to $2 million for recreation: mixed, medium. The city can sell up to $2 million in bonds to fix and build public recreation facilities and buy land, after voter approval. Money can also cover issuance costs, interest during construction, temporary notes, and repayment of city advances. The first principal payment is due within 3 years, and th… - Bonds exempt from city debt limits: mixed, medium. These bonds do not count toward Pawtucket’s normal debt cap or some city charter limits. They remain full obligations of the city. This gives the city more room to borrow for recreation projects but also increases the city’s financial exposure that taxes may need to cover. - Voters must approve recreation borrowing: mixed, low. Pawtucket voters decide this borrowing at the next general election, unless the mayor moves it to an earlier special election. The ballot wording is set by law. The city clerk must keep the act available for public inspection before the vote. - Faster bond and note rules: mixed, low. The city can issue short‑term notes while waiting for bonds or state or federal aid. Original notes must be paid within 5 years, and renewals cannot extend beyond 5 years from the first note. Outstanding refunding notes at one time cannot be more than 200% of the authorized bond amount. The city ma… - Unused bond authority can be canceled: mixed, low. Seven years after this law takes effect, the city council can vote to cancel any unused bond authority. This can reduce future borrowing and tax exposure or reflect that a project stopped. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mary Messier (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Karen Alzate (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cherie L. Cruz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer A. Stewart (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-08 | House | PAWTUCKET BONDS & NOTES PASSAGE | pass | 66 | 0 | | ## Actions (9) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-10: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-08: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-08: House read and passed (House) - 2026-06-05: Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026) (House) - 2026-06-05: Committee recommends passage - 2026-06-02: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/05/2026) - 2026-05-27: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House) ## Bill text - H8589 - As Introduced, 2026-05-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8589.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8589.pdf) ## Related bills - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8589 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8589.htm) - [H8589 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8589.pdf) ## Related - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8589-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).