Woonsocket Radio News Room

State House view from the southThis week at the

General Assembly

 

STATE HOUSE — Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease

 

 

§  Budget bill advances
The 2025 state budget bill (2024-H 7225A), which was approved by the House Finance Committee May 31, is slated to come before the House for consideration June 7. The $13.947 billion budget directs additional funding toward education and children, raises Medicaid reimbursement rates and includes a $120 million affordable housing bond. The budget is $60 million less than it is in the current fiscal year, reflecting an end in federal pandemic aid. Following House passage, the bill must also pass the Senate before being sent to the governor.
Click here to see news release.

§  Assembly approves bill requiring safe storage of firearms
The General Assembly has approved legislation (2024-S 2202aa, 2024-H 7373A) sponsored by Rep. Justine A. Caldwell (D-Dist. 30, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) and Sen. Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) to require safe storage of firearms in Rhode Island. The legislation now heads to Gov. Daniel McKee, who supports the bill.
Click here to see news release.

  • General Assembly OKs LEOBOR reform legislation

The General Assembly passed the Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability and Transparency Act (2024-H 7263Aaa, 2024-S 2096Aaa) which will bring significant and long-overdue reforms to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR).  The bills were introduced by Deputy Speaker Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence) and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence).  The legislation now heads to the governor’s office.

Click here to see news release

 

  • Assembly passes Ruggerio, O’Brien bill to stiffen penalties for dog abuse

The General Assembly passed legislation (2024-S 2744, 2024-H 8095) sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) that would increase the penalty for violations of the care of dogs statute to a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation. The care of dogs statute includes regulations on tethering dogs, leaving them outside and providing proper care and nutrition. The legislation now heads to the governor for consideration.

Click here to see news release

 

  • Assembly OKs Casimiro, Ciccone bill protecting workers’ health coverage

The General Assembly passed legislation (2024-H 7795B, 2024-S 2901B) sponsored by Rep. Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) and Sen. Frank A. Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston) that prohibits contractors and subcontractors from paying employees the cash equivalent of any applicable health care benefit in lieu of actually purchasing the health care benefit. The legislation now heads to the governor for consideration.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Assembly OKs bill banning noncompete clauses for nurse practitioners
The General Assembly has approved legislation (2024-S 2220, 2024-H 7696) sponsored by Sen. Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) and Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol) to prohibit noncompete clauses in employment contracts for nurse practitioners. The legislation, which now goes to the governor’s desk, gives nurse practitioners a protection that physicians have and is intended to address a factor contributing to the state’s shortage of primary care providers.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  General Assembly OKs bill to create ‘Blue Envelope Program’
The General Assembly approved legislation from Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly) and Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) to create a voluntary “Blue Envelope Program” for drivers with autism to improve communication between them and law enforcement during traffic stops. The legislation (2024-H 7040A, 2024-S 2481A) now heads to the governor’s desk.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Assembly approves bill to educate buyers of shoreline property of right to access
The General Assembly has approved legislation from Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown) to improve disclosure of shoreline access rights and related conditions during the sale of oceanfront property. The legislation (2024-S 2185A, 2024-H 7376A) now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  General Assembly approves e-bike bill
The General Assembly voted to approve legislation from Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) and Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) to expand the legal use of electric bicycles in Rhode Island by modernizing their classification and regulation. The legislation (2024-H 7713A, 2024-S 2829A) now heads to the governor’s desk.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Assembly approves consumer protection bill for solar industry
The General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman and Sen. Jacob Bissaillon to protect consumers and ensure a healthy solar industry by regulating businesses selling home solar systems. The legislation (2024-H 7603A, 2024-S 2801Aaa) now goes to the governor’s desk for his consideration.

Click here to see news release.

 

 

The Department of War says it's opened a thorough review into allegations of misconduct by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. The agency says it received "serious allegations of misconduct" against the retired Navy captain. It's unclear what those claims are but it comes after Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers were featured in a viral video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders.        The criminal indictments against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey have been dismissed by a federal judge. Both claimed the appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the US attorney for the Eastern District was unlawful. Comey was indicted for allegedly lying to Congress about the Trump-Russia investigation.        President Trump has signed an executive order that would allow his administration to designate certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. The order gives direction to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to figure out if any chapters should receive the designation. This move would allow for increased sanctions, as well as more power to disrupt financial support.        A Republican Senator says the country "can't afford" President Trump's proposed tariff dividend checks. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson called the president's proposal to issue two-thousand-dollar tariff dividend checks for working-class Americans "completely unacceptable." Johnson, who is a leading fiscal hawk in the Senate, made the claim during a recent interview with Fox Business and warned that the nation could face a two-trillion-dollar deficit this year.        'Tis the season to look out for holiday scammers. With scammers becoming ever more sophisticated in their efforts to separate people from their money, it can be difficult to know who and what to trust. A top one is fake lookalike digital storefronts, often using URLs that look similar to the real thing.        An anonymous donor is continuing a decades long tradition of donating turkeys to the Salvation Army. Two semitrucks carrying 13-thousand Thanksgiving turkeys arrived before the sun came up at the Clearwater, Florida campus on Monday, and they are set to go to families in need. Officials say about 30 years ago the donor first delivered half a dozen turkeys on her birthday and has upped that number every year.       

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