Economic Development (Question 3)$100 million in bonds for business sites, Quonset, the I-195 District, ocean and life-science industries
Read the full text of the measure: House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended, Article 5, Section 1 (RI General Assembly)
In plain words
Bonds are borrowing the state pays back with interest. If this passes, the state can borrow up to $100 million to get land ready for business and to support growth industries. (webserver.rilegislature.gov )
Before and after
| Item | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Borrowing for these projects | No bond money approved | State can borrow up to $100 million |
| Site development | No bond money approved | $55 million for buying and preparing land, cleanup, roads and utilities, including Quonset Business Park and the I-195 District |
| Growth industry infrastructure | No bond money approved | $45 million for ocean, defense, life sciences and data analytics projects, such as water-based test ranges |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (webserver.rilegislature.gov )
Biggest change
- Lets the state borrow up to $100 million: $55 million to prepare land and sites for business (including the Quonset Business Park and the I-195 District) and $45 million for buildings and projects that support Rhode Island's ocean, defense, life sciences and data analytics industries. source: webserver.rilegislature.gov
Who it affects most: Businesses and workers in the areas named, and taxpayers who repay the bonds.
Cost to the state: Unknown for this question alone: the bill does not give a total cost. Interest adds to the amount borrowed. The bill says the bonds must be paid off within 20 state fiscal years after the year they are issued (Article 5, Section 4). The state's yearly payments come from its regular budget.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
The state can borrow up to $100 million for business sites and for ocean, defense and life-science industries.
The state cannot borrow this money for these projects.
Our one-line summary. Rhode Island does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.
- The General Assembly put all five bond questions on the ballot in Article 5 of the state budget bill for the year that starts July 2026 (House Bill 7127). Voters decide each question separately, and a project is approved if a majority of the people voting on it vote to approve it. source: webserver.rilegislature.gov
Why supporters want it
- No public statement found.
Why opponents object
- No public statement found.
Who backs each side
- Placed on the ballot by the General Assembly in the budget bill. No campaign committee or money found yet. source: webserver.rilegislature.gov
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Rhode Island General Assembly's text of House Bill 7127 (the budget), Article 5 .
(3) Economic Development $100,000,000
Approval of this question will allow the State to issue general obligation bonds, refunding bonds, and/or temporary notes in an amount not to exceed one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) to fund industrial facilities infrastructure improvements for economic development purposes to fund site development and growth industry infrastructure , to be allocated as follows:
(a) Site Development $55,000,000
Provides fifty-five million dollars ($55,000,000) for land acquisition or assembly, environmental remediation, infrastructure and utility installation, site preparation or development, and project investments. Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, large-scale industrial site development to create pad-ready locations and/or facilities, infrastructure improvements and investments within the Quonset Business Park, and land acquisition, preparation, and project investments within the I-195 District.
(b) Growth Industry Infrastructure $45,000,000
Provides forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000) for infrastructure, facilities, projects, and investments that support Rhode Island's ocean, defense, life sciences, data analytics and related industries. Eligible uses include, but are not limited to, water-based test ranges and onshore ocean or defense-related innovation/production facilities, as well as facilities, projects, and investments that advance businesses and job growth in the life sciences.
Shall the action of the general assembly, by an act passed at the January 2026 session, authorizing the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes of the State of Rhode Island for the capital projects and in the amount with respect to each such project listed below be approved, and the issuance of bonds, refunding bonds, and/or temporary notes authorized in accordance with the provisions of said act?
APPROVE
REJECT
Wording copied word for word from House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended (H7127Aaa), Article 5, Section 1 ("Proposition to be submitted to the people"), on the Rhode Island General Assembly website. GAP: not yet checked against the Department of State's Voter Information Handbook or the final ballot label, which we could not open. This file is the budget bill as amended; we have not confirmed it is the final signed version. Your ballot is the final word.
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
The bill text for all five questions is in one article. Read it in the House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended, Article 5, Section 1 (RI General Assembly) , or on the Legislature's page for House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended (FY2027 budget), Article 5 , which also shows the votes in each chamber.
Read more
- RI General Assembly: House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended (FY2027 budget), Article 5
- House Bill 7127 Sub A as amended, Article 5 (RI General Assembly)
- Ballotpedia News: the five bond issues
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.