AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Carson

Creates a state-funded Community Grant Program for 65+ services, awarding municipalities at least a baseline grant based on population and matching 2025 support.

04/09/2025 Introduced, referred to House Finance

Purpose

Establishes a state-funded community grant program, housed in the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging, to support municipal and nonprofit programs that help people age 65+ remain living in the community (e.g., senior centers, community resource centers, outreach, health promotion, recreation, transportation assistance, caregiver support).

Key provisions

Creates a Community Grant Program for Older Adult Services within the Office of Healthy Aging (new R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-66-18).

Funding formula (FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter): the state must appropriate the total amount necessary to award each municipality a basic grant equal to the greater of:

$5,000, or
$10.00 per non‑institutionalized resident age 65+ as reported by the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (5‑year estimate).
For FY2026 only, no community may receive less than the FY2025 state grant it received for these purposes.

If a municipality does not operate local older‑adult programs directly, the Office shall consult with municipal leadership and may award the municipality’s basic grant to community nonprofit agencies operating appropriate programs.

Eligible uses: outreach, social services, health promotion, fitness, recreation, lifelong learning, transportation assistance, caregiver support, and similar services for persons 65+.

Eligibility and requirements

To receive a grant, a municipality or nonprofit must:
- Provide a local match equal to the cash or in‑kind support it provided in FY2025.
- Submit an approved plan describing proposed programs/services funded by the grant.
- Demonstrate how the plan meets local older adults’ needs and show how the local match will be met.
- Demonstrate existence (or planned establishment) of a local older‑adult advisory committee with a majority of members age 65+, to advise local officials and relevant legislators.

Program administration and priorities

Grant approvals must consider alignment with the municipality’s comprehensive plan (as it relates to older adults) and with the goals/objectives of the most recent state plan on aging submitted to the Federal Administration on Aging.

The Office of Healthy Aging administers the program and grants.

Fiscal and practical impact

Creates an ongoing appropriation requirement: the state budget must include whatever amount is needed to meet the per‑municipality minimum described above each fiscal year beginning FY2026. The actual fiscal cost will depend on the count of non‑institutionalized residents 65+ (ACS estimates) and municipalities’ prior FY2025 grants.

Expected beneficiaries: municipal governments, local nonprofits (senior centers and related service providers), and community‑dwelling residents age 65+ (through expanded local programming and supports).

Implementation begins upon passage; program design, grant application and award timing will depend on administrative rules and annual appropriations.

Notes
- The bill uses the ACS 5‑year estimate to determine per‑community grant amounts.
- Applicants must demonstrate a FY2025 baseline for local match; municipalities that lacked FY2025 grants may need to clarify match expectations when applying.

Bill