The General Assembly recently wrapped up their 2025 session. Thanks to your advocacy and working with Governor McKee, Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Lawson, and our legislative champions, we achieved 5 big wins for Rhode Island babies, kids, and families:
1) Improved Paid Family Leave – On the last night of session, the General Assembly approved legislation improving paid family leave in Rhode Island by increasing the wage replacement rate, expanding the contribution base, and expanding the definition of family. These changes will help families and workers when they literally need it most.
2) Three Year Extension Of Child Care For Child Care Educators Pilot – Rhode Island’s successful Child Care for Child Care Educators pilot helps child care providers attract and retain early educators by covering the cost of child care for frontline staff. Extending this pilot for another 3 years will help support our early educator workforce and keep child care classrooms open across the state.
3) $3 Million Commitment To Infant Care – A combination of high costs, low wages, and staffing challenges have forced child care providers to close infant classrooms across Rhode Island. The adopted FY 2026 state budget creates a new infant care rate category for the Child Care Assistance Program with infant rates set 20% higher than toddler rates to help cover the costs of a 1:4 staffing ratio for babies age 6 weeks to 18 months. This $3 million commitment to infants will help to reopen closed classrooms that new parents rely on so they can get to work.
4) Funding For MomsPRN Program – The adopted FY 2026 state budget allocates $750,000 in state general revenue to ensure the MomsPRN program will be sustained. This important program helps thousands of expectant and new moms access timely mental health care through their OB/GYN or primary health care provider. The PediPRN program will also continue in 2026 with existing federal grant funds.
5) Pediatric Primary Care Rate Review – The FY 2026 state budget prioritizes strategies to help solve the statewide primary care shortage for people of all ages. Completing a comprehensive pediatric primary health care rate review in 2026 is an important first step toward ensuring Medicaid rates are sufficient to ensure every baby and child in the state has access to pediatric health care.