Rhode Island voters will decide on five bond issues in the November 2026 election. The five bond measures would approve a total of $600 million in general obligation bonds. The bond issues would fund housing development, higher education facilities, economic infrastructure development, environmental protection, and historical preservation.
A general obligation bond is a debt backed by the Rhode Island government. The government is obligated to pay the principal and interest on the bonds to those who purchase the bonds. The bond is backed by the ability of the government to repay the bonds, including their authority to raise revenue through taxation.
In Rhode Island, the state legislature can place bond measures on the ballot with a simple majority vote in both the state House and the state Senate. To be certified for the ballot, the governor must sign the bill.
Between 2000 and 2025, 58 bond measures have been on the ballot in Rhode Island. Of those measures, 52 were approved and six were defeated. Bond measures have been on the ballot in Rhode Island in every even-numbered year since 2000, except for 2020. Due to a delay in the approval of the 2021 budget, bond measures included in the budget bill were placed on the 2021 ballot instead. On average, in years when Rhode Island voters decided on bond measures, more than four were on the ballot.
House Bill 7127
The five bond measures were included in the state’s budget for the 2027 fiscal year, titled House Bill 7127 (H. 7127). When Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed the budget into law on June 12, he also approved the certification of the five bond measures.
H. 7127 was first introduced to the state legislature on January 15, 2026. The state House approved H. 7127 on June 5 in a vote of 65-10. Sixty-four Democrats and one Independent voted yes, and 10 Republicans voted no. On June 9, the state Senate approved H. 7127 in a vote of 31-7. Thirty-one Democrats voted yes, and three Democrats and four Republicans voted no.
While the five bond measures were all included in one bill, H. 7127, Rhode Island voters will cast a separate vote for each of the five measures. As such, each of the measures will be approved or defeated separately.
Distribution of individual bonds
The five bonds would issue a combined $600 million, distributed as follows:
Higher Education Facilities Bond Measure – $275 million in bonds to fund the construction of:
- a new integrated health building for the University of Rhode Island;
- a workforce innovation center at the Community College of Rhode Island, Warwick campus; and
- a student success and career readiness center at Rhode Island College.
Housing Development Bond Measure – $120 million in bonds to fund the construction and development of residential accommodations to “increase and preserve the availability of affordable and accessible housing.”
Economic and Infrastructure Development Bond Measure – $100 million in bonds to fund infrastructure and economic development projects, including:
- industrial site selection, land acquisition, and preparation;
- infrastructure improvements and investments in the Quonset Business Park;
- project investments in the I-95 district;
- infrastructure to support Rhode Island’s ocean industries; and
- investments to advance job growth in the life sciences.
Environment and Watershed Protection and Development Bond Measure – $55 million in bonds to fund environmental preservation and water infrastructure projects, including:
- financial assistance for local water infrastructure improvements;
- the renovation, repair, and construction of existing and new recreational facilities; and
- the restoration and water quality protection of the Narragansett Bay.
Historical Center and Cultural Grants Bond Measure – $50 million in bonds to fund matching grants administered by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and the construction of a new Rhode Island State History Center.
