Question 1: Higher Education Facilities ($275 million)
Statewide — all of Rhode Island
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Placed on the ballot by the General Assembly: the Rhode Island Voter Information Handbook describes Questions 1 through 5 as authorizing the State to borrow through bonds and temporary notes for capital investments under an act passed at the January 2026 session (Chapter 084, Public Laws 2026).[1]
The question on the ballot
Shall the act passed by the General Assembly at the January 2026 session, allowing the State of Rhode Island to issue bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes to pay for the projects listed below, be approved, and the State be allowed to issue these bonds, refunding bonds, and temporary notes as outlined in the law? 1. HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES - $275,000,000 For capital improvements to higher education facilities, to be allocated as follows: a. University of Rhode Island Integrated Health Building - $165,000,000 b. Rhode Island College Adams Library Renovations - $50,000,000 c. Community College of Rhode Island Workforce Innovation Center - $60,000,000[1]
The bond would provide $275,000,000 for three projects: a new Integrated Health Building at the University of Rhode Island's Kingston campus ($165,000,000), a student success and career readiness center and Adams Library renovations at Rhode Island College ($50,000,000), and a Workforce Innovation Center at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus in Warwick ($60,000,000). Official cost estimate in the handbook (assuming 5% interest and level payments over 20 years): principal $275,000,000, interest $166,333,250, total $441,333,250.[1]
A YES vote means
A vote to Approve means that you support the State issuing $275,000,000 in general obligation bonds for improvements to higher education facilities.
A NO vote means
A vote to Reject means that you are against the State issuing $275,000,000 in general obligation bonds for improvements to higher education facilities.
Official fiscal estimate
Per the Rhode Island Department of State handbook: $275,000,000 in general obligation bonds. Assuming 5% interest and level payments over 20 years, interest is $166,333,250 and total cost $441,333,250 (cost of issuance estimated at 0.4% of principal). Timetable: URI Integrated Health Building ready in 2031; RIC Adams Library renovation ready in 2030; CCRI Workforce Innovation Center to begin construction in 2028 and finish in 2030. Estimated useful life: about 50 years (URI, RIC) and 75 years (CCRI).[1]
Arguments made for
- None found in public sources.
Arguments made against
- None found in public sources.
Research notes & limits
The ballot text, approve/reject statements and cost estimates are from the Rhode Island Department of State's 2026 Voter Information Handbook (PDF text extracted and checked by script). The handbook publishes no arguments for or against, and no verbatim argument against the measure was found; the argument lists are left empty so both sides stay balanced (supporters, where found, are listed under supporters). The Secretary of State's website and Ballotpedia blocked automated requests; the five-question list is from the handbook, which covers all statewide referenda. Added (Oct. 19): full text is Article 5 of H 7127 Sub A as amended (enacted as Public Laws 2026 ch. 84); cost figures restate the handbook. No campaign-finance totals were found (the state campaign-finance portal was not queried). No named supporter or opponent organization for Question 1 specifically was found.
Sources · 1
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.A Guide to State Referenda and Voting Procedures in Rhode Island: General Election November 3, 2026 (Voter Information Handbook) · Rhode Island Department of State Official record