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The Rhode Island Senate's top priority for 2026 is stabilizing the state's health care industry, starting with keeping the CharterCARE hospitals open.

Senate President Valarie Lawson has not ruled out a state purchase of Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital if other options fail.

Other Senate health care goals include creating a medical school at URI, limiting "prior authorization" requirements, and regulating pharmacy benefit managers.

Stabilizing Rhode Island's shaky health care industry is the state Senate's top priority in 2026, President Valarie Lawson said Thursday, and will start with keeping the struggling CharterCARE hospitals open at all costs.

In a wide-ranging interview on policies from truck tolls to wealth taxes, Lawson

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