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Rhode IslandS20372026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .

Sponsored By: Pamela J. Lauria (Democratic)

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Blind property tax relief by town

Local relief now varies by town for legally blind residents. Warren exempts up to $40,895; Cumberland up to $47,544; West Warwick $335. Westerly may exempt up to $29,000 by ordinance; the council may set a different cap up to $22,500. Tiverton gives a property tax credit of at least $300 by ordinance. Barrington, Charlestown, Jamestown, and North Kingstown may grant property tax credits or assessment reductions by ordinance.

Statewide tax break for blind homeowners

The law exempts up to $6,000 of your property from local taxes if you are legally blind. The break lowers your taxable value. It applies first to your real and tangible property, then to intangible property only if needed. Your annual savings equal your local tax rate times $6,000.

Automatic hikes to blind exemption end

The law ends the automatic yearly increases to this exemption that matched local tax growth. Future increases will not happen automatically.

Rules to claim blind tax break

You must be a legal Rhode Island resident to get this exemption. Blindness must be certified by a doctor or the Rhode Island services for the blind. You must give proof to your local assessor by the filing deadline. The exemption applies first to real and tangible property, and only then to intangible property. If you own property in more than one town, you can use any leftover exemption in other Rhode Island towns.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Pamela J. Lauria

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 63 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION Passage

Yes: 36 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 008

    4/10/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    4/2/2026Governor

  3. House passed in concurrence

    4/2/2026House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (04/02/2026)

    3/27/2026House

  5. Committee recommends passage in concurrence

    3/24/2026

  6. Scheduled for consideration (03/24/2026)

    3/20/2026

  7. Referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

    3/11/2026House

  8. Senate read and passed

    3/10/2026Senate

  9. Placed on Senate Calendar (03/10/2026)

    3/6/2026Senate

  10. Committee recommends passage

    3/5/2026

  11. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/05/2026)

    2/27/2026

  12. Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

    1/9/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S2037 - As Introduced

    1/9/2026

    HTMLPDF

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