# Rhode Island H8623: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BRIDGES IN THE CITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND LANDSCAPING AND ALL COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR . Rhode Island H8623, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BRIDGES IN THE CITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND LANDSCAPING AND ALL COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Christopher G. Paplauskas (Republican); status became law, last action 2026-06-26 (Effective without Governor's signature) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8623-2026 - 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 H8623 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BRIDGES IN THE CITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND LANDSCAPING AND ALL COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR . - Status: became law - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-06-05 - Last action: 2026-06-26, Effective without Governor's signature - Sponsor: Christopher G. Paplauskas (Republican) - Cosponsors: 7 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (72 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Cranston road bonds need voter approval: benefit, medium. Cranston can borrow up to $8 million to fix streets, sidewalks, and bridges. Voters must approve this at the November 3, 2026 general election, or a city-wide special election. Any unused borrowing power can be canceled seven years after the law’s effective date. - Property taxes back Cranston road bonds: cost, medium. The city must set aside enough money each year to pay these bonds. If not, that amount is added to the property tax. All taxable property can be taxed without limit to pay this debt. These bonds do not count under a specific state debt limit. Principal payments must start within 5 years and finish… - How bond money is spent and invested: mixed, low. Bond money must pay for the road, sidewalk, and bridge work and related costs. It can also pay temporary note interest or principal, repay city advances, cover issuance costs, and fund capitalized interest. The city treasurer may invest unspent money in bank deposits or U.S. government obligations.… - Short-term notes, advances, and grants: mixed, low. The city can use short-term notes before selling bonds or before grant money arrives. Notes tied to bonds cannot exceed the $8 million authority and must be repaid within 5 years. Notes tied to expected state or federal aid cannot exceed the expected aid. Refunded notes outstanding cannot be more t… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Christopher G. Paplauskas (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jacquelyn M. Baginski (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: David A. Bennett (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Richard R. Fascia (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Arthur Handy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joseph M. McNamara (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robert J. Quattrocchi (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | CRANSTON - BONDS & NOTES PASSAGE | pass | 72 | 0 | | ## Actions (9) - 2026-06-26: Effective without Governor's signature (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-11: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-11: House read and passed (House) - 2026-06-10: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-10: Committee recommends passage - 2026-06-08: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/10/2026) - 2026-06-05: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House) ## Bill text - H8623 - As Introduced, 2026-06-05: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8623.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8623.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 - [H8623 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8623.htm) - [H8623 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8623.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-H8623-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).