06/07/2026
The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by State Senator Leonidas Lou Raptakis that would increase the life insurance benefit for Rhode Island National Guard members and their families.
The bill would increase the amount from the current level of $400,000 to $500,000 for the state-funded life insurance available to every active member of the Rhode Island National Guard. Senator Raptakis said the move is necessary to recognize the state’s military personnel for their service and to help them make sure their families are protected.
“Rhode Islanders have a proud tradition of serving their country and providing honorable military service and their families deserve financial protection if the worst were to happen. This bill is especially important now that two Rhode Island National Guard units have been sent overseas,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, Warwick, West Warwick). “Frankly, this amount has not been changed in quite some time and with rising costs and inflation, this increase is absolutely necessary to help families experiencing the ultimate sacrifice of their loved one. This additional money could mean paying off a mortgage, helping with rising tuition costs, or comfortably dealing with the elevated daily inflation we are all experiencing. As tensions in the world continue to grow by the day, leading to great uncertainty of when and where our National Guard members could be deployed, the necessity of this legislation becomes more urgent and apparent.”
Learn more: https://rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=376606