Woonsocket Radio News Room

This 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

 

 

§  Shekarchi introduces legislation to ease zoning for emergency shelter units
Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) introduced legislation (2025-H 5100) to enable cities and towns to allow temporary emergency housing structures for people experiencing homelessness during severe weather or other disasters.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Solomon bill would pave way for foreign-trained doctors to practice medicine
Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced legislation (2025-H 5108) that would allow internationally trained physicians to practice at health care facilities in rural and underserved communities and would provide a mentorship alternative to the residency requirement. It would also create pathways to licensure and allow them to apply for a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Corvese bill would bar auto insurers from using ZIP codes to set premiums
Rep. Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) has introduced legislation to prohibit auto insurers from using ZIP codes as a factor in determining their customers’ rates. The legislation (2025-H 5104) would halt an inequitable practice that can be discriminatory and leads to higher insurance premiums for many of those who can least afford them.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Potter, Ujifusa bill aims to reduce prior authorization requirements

Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) and Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) have introduced legislation (2025-H 5120, 2025-S 0053) to prohibit health insurers from requiring prior authorization for treatment and services ordered by a patient’s primary care provider (PCP). The legislation is meant to help patients access the care they need in a timely manner while also decreasing a significant administrative burden on PCPs so they can focus on patient care.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate confirms Turco as Life Science Hub CEO

The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Mark Turco as the first CEO of Rhode Island’s new Life Science Hub Tuesday. Turco, a 25-year industry veteran, will oversee the agency’s strategy to develop Rhode Island as a regional leader in the life science industry.

 

§  Senate committees meet to review response to homelessness

The Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government met with the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight to review the Department of Housing’s response to the state’s homelessness crisis. The panels also heard a status update on the Echo Village shelter project.

Click here to watch committee meeting.

 

§  Commission celebrates life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King

The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission held its annual celebration of the life of the great civil rights leader. The official holiday commemoration included remarks by commission members, state and religious leaders, several musical presentations, and a number of awards. Rep. Nathan W. Biah (D-Dist. 3, Providence), who chairs the MLK State Holiday Commission, served as master of ceremonies.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Alzate and Diaz condemn President Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship

Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) and Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) condemned President Donald Trump’s recent executive order ending birthright citizenship. Both legislators stand behind Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and his decision to pursue a lawsuit to stop the executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

Click here to see Alzate release

Click here to see Diaz release                                                       

The Defense Secretary is discrediting the editor of The Atlantic about texted plans to strike Houthi targets. Pete Hegseth told reporters Monday that Jeffrey Goldberg is "deceitful" and has "made a profession of peddling hoaxes." Goldberg claims he received accidental group chat messages from Hegseth about plans to bomb the targets in Yemen.        Multiple major wildfires are burning in the Carolinas. The Table Rock fire in South Carolina started Friday and has burned 13-hundred acres with zero containment. In North Carolina, two wildfires are burning uncontained in the western part of the state.        President Trump says he's nominating Susan Monarez to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She had already been serving as the CDC's acting director. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social saying she brings decades of experience championing innovation, transparency, and strong public health systems.        The White House claims Mahmoud Khalil covered up the fact he worked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in his application to become a permanent resident. Khalil is a legal immigrant and a former Columbia University student being targeted after participating in pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration is detaining him under a rarely-used law that allows the Secretary of State to declare someone a risk to the nation's interests.        Tiger Woods and Vanessa Trump are making their relationship status public. Rumors have been swirling for awhile now that the billionaire golf legend and the ex-wife of President Trump's oldest son, Don Jr., had been dating. Woods posted photos of the two together on X over the weekend.        Disney's "Snow White" is taking the top spot at the box office this weekend. The musical starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot made an estimated 43-million dollars in its debut. In a distant second place, spy thriller "Black Bag" brought in an estimated four-point-four million dollars.       

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