Under The Dome – January 9, 2017

Under The Dome | March 10, 2017

An Update from the State House

Welcome to the first edition of Under the Dome 2017! 

On January 3, 2017, the legislature began its new year.  In the coming weeks, legislation will be filed, hearings will be held and the Chamber may ask you to contact your legislators when the need arises.  If you haven’t done so already, please go to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s web page, https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ and enter your information as requested (if you live in Rhode Island), so that you will know who represents you as a State Representative and a State Senator.  Thank you for your help!

Awaiting Committee Assignments – Neither the House nor the Senate has announced any committee membership lists at this time.  Those assignments are expected to be made soon.

Legislative Calendar

The calendar for 2017 has been released.  The key dates to keep in mind are:

Opening Day                                                  January 3, 2017
Last Day for Public Bill Introduction       February 16, 2017
Winter Break                                                 February 20-24, 2017
Spring Recess                                                April 17-21, 2017

The following bills were filed last Thursday and Friday.

House Resolution No. 5015HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE EXPIRATION AND REPORTING DATES OF THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY METHODS FOR GROWING TOURISM IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND THROUGH COORDINATED BRANDING AND MARKETING EFFORTS (Extending the reporting and expiration dates of the House Commission to study the methods for growing tourism in Rhode Island to May 15, 2017 and expiring on August 15, 2017.)

House Bill No. 5021AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX (Exempts a corporation from the minimum corporate tax for the first three years following the date of incorporation.)

House Bill No. 5022AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION – SALES AND USE TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Creates a sales tax holiday for the days of August 12, 2017 and August 13, 2017 and no excise or sales taxes would be collected on non-business sales of tangible personal property with certain exceptions.)

House Bill No. 5024, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION — PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Increases the exemption of social security income from state income tax from $15,000 to $30,000 commencing in 2018.)

House Bill No. 5029,  AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION (Provides that corporations with less than fifty (50) employees shall not be subject to the four hundred fifty dollar ($450) minimum corporate tax.)

House Bill No. 5041AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — CONTROL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION (Codifies into law Carcieri’s “Illegal Immigration Control Order” which would require the DOA to order the dept to utilize the E-Verify progress to verify the employment eligibility of new hires & businesses doing business for the department.)

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WE ARE…

The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition is the voice of business at the Rhode Island State House. We advocate for and against issues of importance to our members. If you have any concerns, questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber of Commerce Coalition coordinator and lobbyist at (401) 334-1000 or by email at advocacy@nrichamber.com

The Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition is coordinated by the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce.