Question 3: Economic Development ($100 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? 3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - $100,000,000 To fund site development and growth industry infrastructure for economic development purposes, to be allocated as follows: a. Site Development - $55,000,000 b. Growth Industry Infrastructure - $45,000,000[1]
The bond would provide $100,000,000: $55,000,000 for site development (land acquisition or assembly, environmental remediation, infrastructure and utility installation and site preparation, including industrial sites, the Quonset Business Park and the I-195 District) and $45,000,000 for growth-industry infrastructure for Rhode Island's ocean, defense, life sciences and data analytics/cybersecurity industries. Official cost estimate in the handbook (assuming 5% interest and level payments over 20 years): principal $100,000,000, interest $60,483,750, total $160,483,750.[1]
A YES vote means
A vote to Approve means that you support the State issuing $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds for economic development purposes.
A NO vote means
A vote to Reject means that you are against the State issuing $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds for economic development purposes.
Official fiscal estimate
Per the Rhode Island Department of State handbook: $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds. Assuming 5% interest and level payments over 20 years, interest is $60,483,750 and total cost $160,483,750 (cost of issuance estimated at 0.4% of principal). Projects are anticipated to begin in mid to late 2027, many within five years; estimated useful life is a minimum of 50 years.[1]
Arguments made for
- None found in public sources.
Arguments made against
- None found in public sources.
On record in support
- Partnership for Rhode Island, a business group, in February 2026 testimony supporting the economic development bond as then proposed at $115 million (the enacted bond is $100 million).[2]
On record in opposition
- 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). The Partnership for Rhode Island letter predates the final $100 million amount. No named opposition from an organization was found.
Sources · 2
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
- 2.Testimony: Support for Article 6, Economic Development Bond (Question 3) (Partnership for Rhode Island) · Rhode Island House Finance Committee · 2026-02-26 Official record