MAKING REVISED APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2026 RELATING TO ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER AND OUR LADY OF FATIMA

Plain-English Summary

This Rhode Island bill directs state money to support two specific hospitals: Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. The bill makes "revised appropriations," meaning it adjusts or adds to the funding already planned for the current state budget year (Fiscal Year 2026). In other words, the state legislature decided that additional or updated financial support was needed for these two hospitals beyond what was originally budgeted.

The bill primarily affects patients, staff, and communities that rely on these two hospitals for healthcare services. Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima have faced financial challenges in recent years, and this state funding is intended to help keep them operational and able to serve patients. Without such support, hospitals in financial difficulty may struggle to maintain services, staffing levels, or even stay open.

The bill has completed the full legislative process — it passed both the Rhode Island House and Senate and has been signed into law by the Governor. This means the revised funding is now officially approved and the money can be directed to these hospitals as part of the state's current fiscal year budget. Rhode Island taxpayers are the source of these funds, as the money comes from the state's general budget appropriations.