SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION TO ISSUE BONDS FOR A MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

Plain-English Summary

This bill would ask Rhode Island voters to decide whether the state should borrow money — through the sale of government bonds — to fund the construction of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island's (URI) main campus in Kingston. Rather than the legislature making this decision on its own, the bill puts the question directly on the ballot at the next general election, giving everyday Rhode Islanders a vote on whether this project should move forward.

If voters approve the bond measure, the state would raise funds by issuing bonds, which are essentially loans that the government repays over time, typically using tax revenue. That money would then be used to build and establish a new medical school at URI. The goal would be to create a public medical education program in Rhode Island, which currently does not have a state-run medical school.

This bill would primarily affect Rhode Island taxpayers, who would ultimately be responsible for repaying the bonds, as well as future students who might attend the medical school, and residents across the state who could benefit from an increased supply of trained doctors. It could also impact the healthcare workforce in Rhode Island more broadly. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process, having been referred to the House Finance Committee, where lawmakers will review its details before deciding whether to advance it further.