AGP Executive Report

World Cup-to-Providence tourism: Providence’s FIFA Fan Zone at Station Park is now the New England hub after Boston’s festival shut down, drawing 70,000+ visitors and keeping the city in the World Cup spotlight. Gaming revenue: Rhode Island sports and iGaming bets rose 14% in May to $187.4M, with online slots hitting a record $111.5M (+35%), while overall revenue climbed 9% to $8.9M. Retail labor rule: Rhode Island became the first state to require staffing ratios for supermarket self-checkout—at least one employee per three kiosks—effective Jan. 1, 2027, as lawmakers cite service needs and theft concerns. Library e-book licensing: Rhode Island joined a multistate push to rein in metered e-book licensing costs for libraries, aiming to protect budgets for new and local titles. Housing funding: Gov. Dan McKee and Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard announced $7.5M for entry-level homeownership projects, including 172 new homes statewide. Workforce retention: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for Wavemaker Fellowships, offering refundable tax credits to help keep STEM, healthcare, and education graduates in-state. Elephant relocation: Roger Williams Park Zoo will move its three African elephants to a Tennessee sanctuary, with relocation planned for late 2027. Defense training milestone: SENEDIA’s New England submarine shipbuilding partnership surpassed 10,000 trained across the region, reinforcing the Ocean State’s maritime defense pipeline.

Water Supply Watch: Gov. Dan McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide drought watch since 2002, citing precipitation deficits dating back to June 2025 plus historically low groundwater and stream flows, urging residents and businesses to start conservation now. Retail Labor Rules: Rhode Island became the first state to limit supermarket self-checkout, requiring one manually staffed cashier lane for every three self-checkout stations and setting ADA staffing expectations, with fines for noncompliance. Coastal Resilience Investment: State and local leaders celebrated the new Roger Wheeler State Beach boardwalk and bulkhead upgrades, including 1,200 feet of new boardwalk and climate-strengthening infrastructure funded largely through federal and the state’s voter-approved beach bond. Political Pulse: A new University of New Hampshire poll shows Democratic challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes leading Gov. McKee in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, with McKee’s support improving but still trailing. Business & Growth: Bryant University and Navigant Credit Union highlighted practical AI training for financial leaders, aiming for responsible, hands-on adoption rather than generic awareness. Healthcare Expansion: The Joint Chiropractic opened a new Rhode Island clinic in Warwick, expanding its network to 44 states.

Truck Tolls Roll Out: Rhode Island’s first truck toll gantries are now operating on I-95 in Exeter and Hopkinton/Richmond, charging Class 8+ trucks $3.25 and $3.50, with 14 total stations planned over 18 months; House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan and the Rhode Island Trucking Association criticized the plan as costly amid road deterioration. Housing & Jobs Incentives: Gov. Dan McKee’s administration announced $7.5M in first-round awards (172 homes total) and opened a second $12.5M round for entry-level homeownership, while the Rhode Island Commerce Board approved $8M in incentives including $6.2M in tax credits for Raytheon’s Portsmouth expansion tied to 150 new jobs. Public Health & Climate Resilience: URI trustees approved the next phase of a public medical school, and Rhode Island also celebrated major upgrades at Roger Wheeler State Beach; meanwhile, Crossroads Rhode Island is opening a temporary cooling center during extreme heat, and Veolia imposed an outdoor water ban in parts of South Kingstown and Narragansett. Lottery & Local Economy: Rhode Island Lottery sales hit $26.7M in May, up 2% year over year. Preservation Grants: Preserve Rhode Island awarded about $105K in matching grants to 13 nonprofits for repairs to historic sites statewide. Legal/Policy Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear challenges to state rifle restrictions, and Rhode Island is also in the mix of federal lawsuits over Medicaid work requirements and in-state tuition rules for undocumented students.

Medicaid Legal Fight: Twenty-five Democratic-led states and D.C. sued the Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements, arguing the federal “medically frail” exemption is too narrow and would push ill and disabled residents off coverage. Rhode Island Health Care Impact: Rhode Island’s own Medicaid-related challenge is part of a broader push to block the interim federal guidance that tightens who qualifies for exemptions. Water Supply Crunch: Veolia Rhode Island imposed a mandatory outdoor water ban for South Kingstown and parts of Narragansett, drawing criticism from local officials over late notice and prompting them to seek legal advice. Cannabis Licensing Court Battle: With Rhode Island lifting the residency requirement for pot shop owners, the Cannabis Control Commission asked a federal judge to undo the order that paused its first license applications. Retail Labor Rule: Rhode Island enacted the first statewide self-checkout staffing ratio, requiring at least one worker for every three kiosks (effective Jan. 1, 2027). Business Expansion: Gov. Dan McKee announced $8 million in incentives, including $6.2 million in tax credits for Raytheon’s Portsmouth expansion tied to 150 new jobs. Student Housing Deal: Grove Property Group brokered an $11.3 million sale of a 128-bed Providence student housing portfolio, marking GROMA’s entry into Rhode Island.

Medicaid Work-Rule Lawsuit: A coalition of Democratic-led states, including Rhode Island, sued the Trump administration to block new federal guidance that sharply narrows who qualifies as “medically frail” under Medicaid work requirements—arguing it will force vulnerable patients off coverage. Tuition Fight: The DOJ also sued Massachusetts and Rhode Island over “in-state tuition” and aid for undocumented students, saying the policies unlawfully discriminate against U.S. citizens. Rhode Island Gaming: Land-based casino revenue in Rhode Island fell 2% year-over-year in May to $57.6 million. Housing & Homeownership Finance: Washington Trust said it expects to help finance 37 home purchases this year across RI, MA and CT using federal grant programs plus Rhode Island’s AnchorHome initiative. Aquidneck Island Safety Funding: Rhode Island’s delegation announced $19.25 million for roadway, bike and pedestrian safety upgrades on Aquidneck Island. Local Business/Community: The Warren and Bristol Prevention Coalitions launched “Sticker Shock” to encourage responsible Fourth of July behavior at local stores and liquor shops. Marine Industry Hiring: Navtronics named Gary Morrissette Northeast Sales Manager, covering seven New England locations. Banking & Culture: Bank of America expanded Museums on Us to 250 institutions and will offer free admission for July 4 weekend, including RI museums.

Medicaid Legal Fight: Rhode Island and 24 other Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the “medically frail” exemption is too narrow and would cut off care for vulnerable patients. Tuition Crackdown: The U.S. Department of Justice also filed complaints against Rhode Island and Massachusetts over in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, seeking to block enforcement and scholarships. Cannabis Licensing: Rhode Island moved to lift a court order blocking pot shop licenses after lawmakers removed the residency requirement, restarting the licensing path. Infrastructure Dollars: Rhode Island’s delegation announced nearly $19.25 million for Aquidneck Island safety upgrades, targeting sidewalks, crossings, and roadway improvements in Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth. Truck Tolls Update: RIDOT awarded a tentative contract to build the back-office system for restarting Rhode Island’s truck tolls, with go-live now expected no earlier than mid-2027. Workforce & AI: A new federal push aims to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy, while Rhode Island businesses and agencies continue rolling out related programs. Local Business/Immigration: Reports of a West Hartford restaurant owner detained by ICE and held in Rhode Island sparked calls from elected officials for his release.

State Consumer Protection: Rhode Island drivers who paid parking charges that looked official may soon get refunds under a $1.35 million settlement tied to UPP Global’s alleged undisclosed fees and misleading ticket notices at lots in Providence, Newport and East Greenwich (coverage: Oct. 1, 2019–Aug. 31, 2024). Local Business Recognition: Providence Business News named 24 honorees for its 2026 Leaders & Achievers Awards, spanning manufacturing, health care, education, nonprofit, financial services, hospitality, legal, architecture and sports; the in-person ceremony is Aug. 20 at Aldrich Mansion in Warwick. Workforce & Airport Economy: Food and beverage workers at T.F. Green Airport walked off the job in a strike seeking higher wages; 73 workers cited $16 an hour pay and no contract since August, while the operator says restaurants remain open. Real Estate: Residential Properties Ltd. says it closed the highest Warren sale since July 2005—$1.9 million for a renovated river-view home with dock access. Policy & Privacy: Gov. Dan McKee signed Rhode Island’s Genetic Information Privacy Act, requiring express consent and safeguards for consumer genetic data. Business Community Leadership: RDW Group managing director Phil Loscoe retired after 32 years, including prior Cranston administration service.

Consumer Protection: Rhode Island drivers may get refunds under a $1.35M settlement after Attorney General Peter Neronha accused UPP Global of deceptive parking charges and ticket notices that allegedly made fees look official; refunds could cover payments tied to “sales tax” labels from Oct. 1, 2019, through Aug. 31, 2024. Local Business & Tourism: The Spirit of Bermuda, the island’s flagship sloop, finished the 2026 Newport Bermuda Race after carbon-fiber mainmast damage from a suspected lightning strike was repaired in Bermuda and Rhode Island—supporting the Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s youth programs via charter income. Workforce & Education Ethics: An ethics complaint targets Rhode Island Senate President Valarie Lawson, alleging she used her role to advance the teachers union’s political agenda, including votes tied to charter school funding and employer neutrality. Sports Betting & Tech: Rhode Island is among states where Polymarket and Kalshi promo codes (NYPMAX) are available for World Cup prediction-market trades, highlighting how local access is expanding for entertainment wagering. Higher Ed Integrity: Brown University professor Roberto Serrano says AI cheating on a midterm in his ECON 1170 course involved at least 50 students, calling for stronger academic integrity action.

Statehouse & Higher Ed Integrity: Brown University professor Roberto Serrano says AI cheating is driving a major academic integrity crisis after detecting widespread misconduct in an advanced economics class, warning that faculty can’t fight alone. Workforce & AI Training: A new bipartisan nonprofit, RAISE US, is launching with $500M to help workers pivot as AI reshapes jobs, starting with pilots in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland and Utah. Local Business & Community: Rhode Island Commerce is opening applications for Innovation Voucher Grants, while the Rhode Island Community Food Bank reports rising summer demand. Housing & Development: URI trustees authorized the next phase of public medical school development, and the state is moving on affordable housing initiatives tied to regulatory changes. Airport Labor: Food and beverage workers at T.F. Green airport walked off the job over wages, adding pressure to the region’s travel economy. Education Policy Fight: Democrats in Pennsylvania advanced bills that would cut scholarships and charter funding, a reminder that school choice battles are intensifying across the region. Politics & National Spotlight: Rhode Island declined to participate in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, leaving its assigned booth dark—while other states scrambled to fill gaps.

AI Workforce Push: A new bipartisan nonprofit, RAISE US, is launching with $500M to help workers pivot as AI reshapes jobs, starting in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland and Utah with major employers and training partners. Local Water & Power Pressure: Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee issued the state’s first statewide “Drought Watch” since 2002, urging residents and businesses to conserve as precipitation deficits and low groundwater/streamflows worsen heading into peak summer demand. AI Data Center Governance: Westerly is weighing how to respond if an AI-driven data center proposal lands, with council moving toward drafting a possible moratorium after concerns about water and energy strain. Housing & Business Development: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for Innovation Voucher Grants, aiming to spur business innovation. Regulatory/Compliance Watch: Rhode Island is also tightening rules for nonbank servicers, reflecting ongoing compliance demands in the state. Media & Business Recognition: Boston Globe Rhode Island won 34 Rhode Island Press Association awards, including major honors for business/investigative coverage tied to Prospect Medical Holdings. Community Spotlight: Block Island took a step toward expanding veterinary services by approving zoning changes that allow veterinary trailer use.

Federal Policy Shift: The Trump administration is backing away from addressing civil rights for Black students, with civil rights lawyers calling it a reversal of how federal law has historically been used to tackle systemic discrimination. Local Governance & AI: Westerly’s Town Council is weighing a potential moratorium on AI data centers after concerns about water and power strain, with a solicitor drafting options for review. State Economy & Retail Jobs: Rhode Island’s new Self-Service Checkout Stations Act requires grocery stores to keep manually staffed lanes open—one per three self-checkouts—to protect accessibility and jobs. Water & Business Risk: Gov. Dan McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide drought watch since 2002, urging conservation by residents and businesses as groundwater and streamflows remain historically low. Healthcare Workforce: URI trustees authorized the next phase of a public medical school development, backed by $5 million in state startup funding, aiming to address physician shortages. Education Politics: Rhode Island Senate President Valarie Lawson faces an ethics complaint tied to votes on charter-school and public-sector union measures. Labor & Food Supply: Rhode Island’s Community Food Bank is preparing for summer demand as families lose school meal support.

Grocery Checkout Rules: Gov. Dan McKee signed Rhode Island’s Self-Service Checkout Stations Act, requiring stores that use self-checkout to keep at least one manually staffed lane for every three kiosks, ensure one station meets ADA accessibility standards, and keep the self-checkout monitor from juggling other duties—aimed at protecting jobs and customer service. Workforce & AI Training: A new $500 million initiative, RAISE US, backed by more than $500 million and co-led by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, is rolling out AI workforce transition programs with state and major employer partners. State Economic Development: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for its Innovation Voucher Program, offering up to $75,000 per business for R&D projects with local “knowledge providers” like universities and hospitals. Health Care Leadership: Care New England CEO Dr. Michael Wagner announced he’ll step down in 2027 to become board chair, following budget pressure and leadership cuts. Local Business/Regulation: Rhode Island also set new standards for larger nonbank mortgage servicers, aligning governance and liquidity expectations with multi-state regulator norms. Veterinary Access on Block Island: Block Island’s town council approved zoning changes that would allow veterinary services via trailers, clearing the way for expanded on-island care.

AI Workforce Push: Former R.I. Gov. Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a $500M-plus nonprofit backed by major tech and corporate donors, to help states and employers retrain workers for an AI-driven economy. Labor & Business Impact: At T.F. Green, 73 food-and-beverage workers at Grove Bay Concessions walked off the job after more than a year without a contract, demanding higher wages. Energy Policy: Gov. Dan McKee vetoed Rhode Island bills that would have required large building owners to track emissions, leaving the state without a clear measurement path toward its climate goals. Local Politics: Rhode Island Republicans endorsed Aaron Guckian for governor at the GOP convention, along with other statewide candidates. Healthcare & Retirement: A new report says retirees are likely to outlive savings in 41 states, with a projected $109,000 average shortfall at age 65. Sports & Philanthropy: Ghana’s Black Stars received private bonus pledges during a Rhode Island camp visit ahead of the Croatia match in Philadelphia. Water Watch: Rhode Island issued its first drought watch since 2002, urging voluntary conservation.

Building Decarbonization: Gov. Dan McKee vetoed Rhode Island bills that would have required large building owners to track and report emissions, leaving the state without a clear path to meet its climate targets. Labor at T.F. Green: More than 70 food and beverage workers at T.F. Green International Airport went on strike after more than a year of failed negotiations with Grove Bay Concessions, citing pay and cost-of-living pressures. AI Workforce Push: Former Gov. Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a $500M+ effort to help states and employers retrain workers for an AI-driven economy, with Rhode Island-linked Brown launching a Workforce Development Policy Lab to measure training outcomes. Healthcare & Privacy: A Rhode Island and other states’ push helped prompt Shopify to ban e-cigarette sales on its platform, while coverage also highlights states moving toward data-broker registries and stronger privacy rules. Local Environment: Debate continues over stocking hatchery-raised brook trout in Rhode Island waters as wild populations decline. Sports Diplomacy: Ghana’s government delegation visited the Black Stars’ Rhode Island camp ahead of the Croatia match, promising rewards tied to qualification.

Housing & Ethics: A Globe Spotlight investigation says Massachusetts state housing grants were tied to shoddy renovations and fake invoices, with subcontractors denying the work and an executive allegedly failing to disclose a personal connection to the developers. Public Health: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked by advocates to Parkinson’s disease, even as some farmers warn about profit pressure and the EPA reviews the safety question. Rhode Island Education: Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain wrapped her final monthly meeting ahead of retirement, touching on budget timing, a rejected loan request, and leadership transition to interim Superintendent Peter Sanchioni. Local Politics: Warren’s candidate filings picked up after an initially slow start, setting up races including a bid for the RI House District 67 seat. AI & Business: Brown researcher Louis Castricato’s Overworld is pivoting from chatbots toward “world models” aimed at real-time physical environments. RI Environment & Waste: A Rhode Island recycling explainer breaks down why rules differ and how the Johnston facility sorts what residents can actually recycle. Maritime Manufacturing: REGENT completed its Seaglider Manufacturing Facility in North Kingstown, positioning the site as a global production hub and citing hundreds of jobs. Tech Regulation Watch: The CFTC’s prediction-markets fight continues, with Kentucky sued and Rhode Island listed among states targeted in the broader crackdown.

Prediction Markets Clash: The CFTC sued Kentucky over Kalshi and Polymarket, and says it has now taken action against nine states, including Rhode Island, as states push their own rules for event betting. Privacy Compliance Push: New state privacy laws are forcing businesses to update data programs, with added focus on impact assessments and sensitive-data disclosures. Health Care Fraud in Rhode Island: DOJ announced 455 defendants in a $6.5B national takedown; two Providence residents were charged in schemes tied to Medicaid benefits and identity fraud. Maritime Manufacturing Jobs: REGENT completed its 255,000-square-foot Seaglider facility in North Kingstown, positioning the site as a global production hub and citing hundreds of jobs. Insurance Ruling: Rhode Island Supreme Court said “regular use” in an auto policy is a jury question, not a matter for judges to decide. Local Giving Back: After Scottish fans’ impact in Providence, GoProvidence and the Rhode Island Sports Commission donated $5,000 to Glasgow Children’s Hospital and local venues raised more for area causes.