Rhode Island budget boosts healthcare, funds public transit

Rhode Island lawmakers approved a revised $14.3 billion fiscal 2026 budget focused on bolstering healthcare and providing funds for the Rhode Island Public Transit Agency (RIPTA). The budget prioritizes these areas to prevent system collapse. The revised budget includes increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care providers, additional funding for hospitals, and a gas tax increase to aid RIPTA. It also cuts some of Governor McKee's proposed programs. The budget, passed by the House Committee on Finance, now goes to the full House. The Speaker cited the need to address healthcare shortages and RIPTA's financial struggles as key drivers of the budget's revisions.