The Rhode Island General Assembly on Tuesday passed legislation that would expand Jamestown’s senior property tax relief program, sending the bill to Gov. Dan McKee for consideration.
The measure, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer, D-Newport, and Rep. Alex Finkelman, D-Jamestown, was requested by the Jamestown Town Council. It would extend the town’s existing tax-relief program to a new income tier of senior residents.
Jamestown currently offers a sliding scale of property tax relief to seniors with household incomes below 220% of the federal poverty guideline, with larger exemptions available at lower income levels. Under the bill, seniors with incomes between 220% and 240% of the federal poverty guideline would qualify for an exemption equal to 10% of the assessment cap or the assessed valuation of their property, whichever is less.
“Property tax relief is an important tool for municipalities to help seniors on fixed incomes avoid being priced out of their homes by rising costs,” Euer said in a statement, adding that she would continue to support the Town Council’s efforts “to prevent residents from being priced off the island.”
Finkelman, who represents Jamestown and Middletown, said the council had identified the income tier as an area of need.
“Seniors are struggling with rising costs across the board and they need help,” Finkelman said in a statement. “Granting our senior residents some tax relief is the right thing to do, and I look forward to seeing this important bill become law.”
The bill is identified as 2026-S 2422 in the Senate and 2026-H 7151 in the House.
