Retiree tax relief on lawmakers’ agenda

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Taxes on Rhode Island retirees could be cut again.

A bill introduced Friday in the state House of Representatives would exempt the first $30,000 in Social Security income from state income taxes. A pending Senate proposal would exempt the first $20,000. Either would be an increase from the current $15,000.

Warwick Democratic Rep. Joseph McNamara sponsored the House bill.

Chipping away at retirees’ tax burdens has been an annual cause for House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. The Cranston Democrat named it one of his six priorities this year during opening remarks at the start of the new House session this week.

A similar 2015 initiative provided exemptions on up to $15,000 of Social Security income. An initiative passed last year expanded tax relief to other retirement income such as pensions.