The Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns has released its priorities for the 2025 legislative session and the FY2026 state budget.

“The League of Cities and Towns looks forward to sharing the day-to-day impacts of this year’s legislation on the folks who live and pay taxes in our communities,” said East Providence Mayor and League President Bob DaSilva.

“Together, I believe that we can tackle the problems facing Rhode Island while still protecting taxpayers, supporting job growth and operating with fiscal responsibility.”

This year’s priorities were announced in the League’s legislative priorities booklet, which was provided to each member of the General Assembly. The priorities include:

• Education funding reforms, which include improving budget certainty and increasing the state share of teacher pensions;

• Funding for transportation, infrastructure and resiliency programs, including the successful Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program and Municipal Road Program;

• State-mandated tax exemption reform, which includes state reimbursement for property tax exemptions or structuring exemptions as enabling legislation; and

• Workforce management reforms, including parity with state pensions for municipal disability pensions and municipal injured-on-duty benefits and common-sense safeguards that limit the scope of binding arbitration.

“Our members and staff will work collaboratively with the General Assembly to promote our mission to secure strong investments in local communities, advocate for fully funded policy proposals and adopt flexible policies that support the uniqueness of Rhode Island’s 39 distinct communities,” said Randy Rossi, executive director of the League.