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S 2029Veterans & Military

Military Affairs and Defense - National Guard

Increases the maximum life insurance coverage amount eligible for state premium reimbursement for mobilized National Guard members.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting
Population
Affected
3
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 9, 2026Committee Senate Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the benefits provided to members of the Rhode Island National Guard who are mobilized for active duty for more than thirty days. Currently, the state reimburses these members for the cost of premiums on federal term life insurance policies up to a coverage limit of $400,000. This bill increases that coverage limit to $500,000, meaning the state will cover the premium costs for a higher amount of life insurance protection for deployed service members.

For younger readers

When soldiers in the National Guard are sent away to do their jobs for a long time, the state helps pay for insurance to keep their families safe financially. Right now, the state pays for the cost of this insurance up to a certain amount. This new rule says the state will pay for a higher amount of insurance than before. This helps make sure the soldiers' families have more protection if something bad happens to the soldier while they are away serving.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
National Guard membersFamilies of National Guard membersTaxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Strengthens the financial safety net for service members and their families, ensuring better economic security during mobilization.
  • Adjusts benefits to better reflect current economic realities and the cost of living, preventing the erosion of support for public servants.
  • Demonstrates a commitment to the welfare of community members who are called upon to perform dangerous public service.
  • Allocates general fund resources specifically to military personnel rather than broader social programs that could benefit the most marginalized populations.
  • Does not address the underlying need for universal insurance coverage, instead reinforcing a tiered system of benefits based on employment status.
  • Increases spending on military-adjacent costs without accompanying reforms to the broader military-industrial complex.
For Conservatives
  • Supports the military and National Guard, fulfilling a core value of honoring and caring for those who serve the country and state.
  • Acts as a retention and recruitment tool for the National Guard, ensuring the state maintains a strong and capable defense force.
  • Utilizes existing federal insurance structures rather than creating a new, complex state-run bureaucracy to manage the benefit.
  • Increases government spending and draws more money from the general fund, potentially contributing to higher taxes or deficits.
  • Expands government entitlement programs, which some conservatives may view as creating long-term fiscal liabilities.
  • Lacks specific offsets or spending cuts elsewhere to pay for the increased reimbursement costs.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions · 4 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 30-3-40.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-3 entitled "National Guard" is hereby amended to read as follows: 30-3-40.4. Payment of life insurance premiums. Any member of the national guard who has been mobilized in excess of thirty (30) days and who elects coverage under a term life insurance policy issued by the federal government, shall be reimbursed from the general fund for the cost of premiums incurred by the member for said policy for any month or part thereof that the member has been mobilized. In the event that a member of the national guard elects coverage in an amount in excess of four five hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) ($500,000) under such policy, the member shall receive reimbursement from the general fund in an amount not to exceed the amount of the premiums attributable to the first four five hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) ($500,000) of coverage under said policy.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.