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Weekly Roundups  

View all Recent Press Releases
   
05/16/2019
Senate backs bill to enact much of ACA at state level
The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller to help protect Rhode Islanders’ access to insurance coverage in the face of threats to the federal Affordable Care Act.


  
05/15/2019
Speaker’s Good Samaritan overdose bill passes House
The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello to help prevent overdose deaths by better protecting law enforcement and emergency medical personnel who try to save victims.


  
05/08/2019
Bill to raise tobacco age to 21 scheduled for hearing
For the sixth consecutive year, Rep. Teresa Tanzi has once again filed legislation to increase the age to buy tobacco products in Rhode Island to 21. This time, she has support from an unlikely backer: the tobacco industry.  
05/08/2019
Sen. Felag bill that exempts application fees for veterans to public higher education institutions passes Senate
Sen. Walter S. Felag’s (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) legislation (2019-S 0178) that authorizes the state’s higher education institutions to waive application and transcript fees for veterans passed the Rhode Island Senate.


  
05/07/2019
General Assembly leaders unveil package of comprehensive education reform legislation
The leadership of the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives unveiled a package of education reform bills during a press conference at the State House today.

  
05/07/2019
Senate passes Ruggerio legislation to bring more transparency to pension plan systems
The Senate today passed legislation introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) that would bring further transparency to the St. Joseph's Health Services pension plan.

  
05/03/2019
Two bills sponsored by Sen. Lawson pass Senate concerning apprenticeships and contractor bonds
Two pieces of legislation sponsored by Sen. Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) were passed by the Rhode Island Senate.  The two bills relate to apprenticeship programs and contractor bonds for state projects.


  
04/30/2019
Sen. Felag bill that raises amount of beer directly sold by breweries to customers passes Senate
Sen. Walter S. Felag’s (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) legislation (2019-S 0620) that would increase the amount of beer sold directly to customers by breweries was passed by the Rhode Island Senate.


  
04/26/2019
Rep. O’Brien named chairman of Joint Lottery Committee
Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) was unanimously elected as the chairman of the Permanent Joint Committee on State Lottery this week by his fellow committee members.



  
04/25/2019
Rep. Marszalkowski’s bill that amends law to encourage food donation passes House
Rep. Alex D. Marszalkowski’s (D-Dist. 52, Cumberland) legislation (2019-H 5322) which establishes comprehensive immunity provisions for individuals donating food to food banks passed the House of Representatives.



  
04/24/2019
House approves Mattiello bill creating teams to prevent violence at schools
Panels would ensure warning signs aren’t missed
 
The House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello to increase school safety by creating threat assessment teams in schools to serve as the “boots on the ground” in identifying potentially threatening behavior by those in the school community.


  
04/24/2019
House approves Caldwell’s bill to post opioid warning signs at all pharmacies in R.I.
Measure intended as part of effort to curb opioid epidemic
 
The House of Representatives approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Justine Caldwell to require signs at pharmacies warning customers about dangers associated with opioids.


  
04/24/2019
Sen. Coyne sponsors three bills to support Alzheimer’s care
Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne has introduced three pieces of legislation aimed at better supporting Rhode Islanders affected by Alzheimer’s disease and securing more federal funding for Alzheimer’s programs in the state.


  
04/23/2019
House approves Shekarchi resolution seeking sepsis protocols
The House of Representatives approved a resolution sponsored by House Majority Leader K. Joseph Shekarchi calling for the Department of Health to develop protocols to help detect sepsis early and treat it.
  
04/16/2019
Rep. Hawkins’ bill that prohibits misrepresenting pets as service animals passes the House
Legislation (2019-H 5299aa) sponsored by Rep. Bernard A. Hawkins (D-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester) that prohibits the misrepresentation of pets as service animals in order to acquire any rights or privileges afforded to disabled people passed the House of Representatives.


  
04/12/2019
Rep. O’Brien questions RIC and CCRI over hiring of armed police details on campuses
At a meeting of the House Finance Subcommittee on Education, Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) questioned representatives from Rhode Island College (RIC) and the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) over their decisions to hire armed police details for campus events at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the taxpayer.  The campus police forces for RIC and CCRI are not armed and both administrations have been strong opponents to legislation (2019-H 5138) sponsored by Representative O’Brien that calls for the arming of RIC and CCRI police officers.


  
04/11/2019
President Ruggerio to introduce bill to streamline development on large tracts of state land, such as I-195 Redevelopment area
President of the Senate Dominick J. Ruggerio plans to submit legislation today that takes a new approach to economic development on large tracts of state land. Spurred by delays and impediments imposed upon the Hope Point Tower proposal for the I-195 Redevelopment District, President Ruggerio hopes to create a more streamlined process for approvals on these state-owned parcels moving forward.


  
04/11/2019
Metts, Slater joined by advocates calling for licensing reform
Bill aimed at opening career paths for those released from prison
 
STATE HOUSE – Sen. Harold M. Metts and Rep. Scott A. Slater have filed legislation to prevent Rhode Islanders from being denied an occupational license based solely or partially on a non-related criminal conviction.