# Rhode Island S3243: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $41,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONS, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN . Rhode Island S3243, AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $41,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONS, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Linda L. Ujifusa (Democratic); 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-S3243-2026 - 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 S3243 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $41,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONS, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN . - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-05-01 - Last action: 2026-06-26, Effective without Governor's signature - Sponsor: Linda L. Ujifusa (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (106 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Property taxes back these school bonds: cost, high. The town must budget enough each year to pay these bonds and notes. If not, that amount is added to the annual tax levy. All taxable property in Portsmouth can be taxed without any rate or amount limit to make the payments. These bonds do not count against the town’s legal debt limit. That can allo… - State OK needed for school aid: cost, medium. School projects paid with this borrowing must be approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education to get state housing aid. Without state approval, the town does not receive that aid and must cover more costs locally. This can raise the town’s share of project costs and pressure property taxes. - Portsmouth can borrow $41M for schools: mixed, medium. The law lets Portsmouth borrow up to $41 million to build, fix, furnish, and equip school buildings. Principal payments must start within 5 years, and all debt must be paid within 30 years of each issue. Money can pay for construction, repairs, equipment, capitalized interest, short‑term notes, tow… - Voter approval and borrowing sunset: mixed, low. Voters decide whether to approve this borrowing at the November 3, 2026 general election, or at a special election the council sets. The town clerk keeps a copy of the law available for public viewing until the vote. No bonds can be issued unless a majority approves. Seven years after the law takes… - Short-term notes and state financing options: mixed, low. The town can issue short‑term notes to cover costs before bonds or state or federal aid arrive. These notes must be paid within 5 years and follow limits, including a 200% cap on refunding notes. With council approval, the finance director can advance town funds to start work and repay them later f… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Linda L. Ujifusa (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-10 | House | PORTSMOUTH BONDS & NOTES PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 68 | 0 | | | 2026-05-12 | Senate | THE TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH -- BONDS Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-26: Effective without Governor's signature (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-10: House passed in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-10: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/10/2026) (House) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage in concurrence - 2026-06-07: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-13: Referred to House Finance (House) - 2026-05-12: Senate read and passed (Senate) - 2026-05-08: Placed on Senate Calendar (05/12/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-07: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-01: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/07/2026) - 2026-05-01: Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government (Senate) ## Bill text - S3243 - As Introduced, 2026-05-01: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3243.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3243.pdf) ## Related bills - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [S3243 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3243.htm) - [S3243 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3243.pdf) ## Related - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026) - [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026) - [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026) - [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026) - [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-S3243-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).