Leader Chippendale: 2026 H7251/H7257 - Ties State Budget Growth to Inflation - House Finance (4826)
On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (R District 40 - Coventry, Foster, Glocester) testified before the House Committee on Finance regarding two companion pieces of legislation aimed at reforming Rhode Island's public finance structure: 2026-H 7251 and 2026-H 7257.
In his remarks, Leader Chippendale outlines 2026-H 7251, "An Act Relating to Public Finance -- State Budget," which proposes tethering annual state spending growth to either the inflation rate or the growth of personal income, whichever metric is greater. Advocating for structural fiscal discipline, he argues that state government spending must not outpace the economic realities of Rhode Island taxpayers. The legislation includes measured exemptions for federal funds, state emergencies, and debt obligations.
Additionally, Leader Chippendale introduces 2026-H 7257, the accompanying joint resolution that would place this statutory budget cap on the ballot as a constitutional amendment for voter approval.
House Bill No. 7251
BY Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Santucci, Paplauskas, Brien, Quattrocchi, Hopkins, Fascia
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE BUDGET (Limits growth in state spending from exceeding the amount of growth in inflation or personal income growth, whichever is greater.)
{LC3654/1}
» http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7251.pdf
House Resolution No. 7257
BY Chippendale, Nardone, Place, Santucci, Paplauskas, Brien, Quattrocchi, Hopkins, Fascia
ENTITLED, JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- ESTABLISHING A STATE SPENDING GROWTH LIMIT BASED ON INFLATION OR PERSONAL INCOME GROWTH (Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a state spending growth limit based on inflation or personal income growth.)
{LC3657/1}
» http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7257.pdf
House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale
» https://www.rihousegop.org/leaderchippendale.html
Rhode Island House Republicans
» Website: https://www.rihousegop.org/
» Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rihousegop
» X: https://www.twitter.com/RIHouseGOP
» YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RIHouseGOP
Subscribe to the RI House GOP YouTube Channel to receive alerts on when new video clips are added.
#RhodeIsland #LeadeChippendale #StateBudget #FiscalPolicy #RIGeneralAssembly #HouseFinance