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

 

§  Assault weapons ban introduced

Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) introduced legislation (2025-H 5436) to prohibit assault weapons including certain semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols. All five of the state’s general officers and gun safety advocates called for the passage of the ban, which Gov. Dan McKee also included in his proposed 2026 budget bill.
Click here to see news release.

§  Ujifusa, Potter sponsor bill to prohibit 'junk fees'
Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) are sponsoring legislation (2025-S 0017, 2025-H 5247) to prohibit “junk fees” by making it a deceptive trade practice to advertise, display or offer a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges other than government taxes and shipping.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Euer bill would help Rhode Islanders pass on their homes without probate
    A bill (2025-S 0092) introduced by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) would allow Rhode Islanders to avoid the costly and complex process of probate when leaving their home to a loved one after their death.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Urso, Handy aim to boost Rhode Island’s main streets
    Legislation (2025-S 0174, 2025-H 5477)  introduced by Sen. Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) would launch a pilot statewide Main Street Coordinating Program to aid the success of Rhode Island’s main streets, downtowns and city centers.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Felag, Boylan bill would waive VIN check fees for veterans and military
    Senate Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) and Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) introduced legislation (2025-H 5081, 2025-S 0075) to waive the fee for vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Morales, Kallman bill would help victims of wage theft in construction industry
    Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence) and Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) introduced legislation (2025-H 5366, 2025-S 0069) to help the victims of wage theft who work in construction receive the payments they are owed.

Click here to see Morales release.

Click here to see Kallman release.

 

  • Chairmen Craven and LaMountain introduce V.I.C.T.I.M. Act

House Judiciary Chairman Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) joined advocates at the State House on Wednesday to introduce the Victims of Crime Trauma Informed Mobilization (V.I.C.T.I.M.) Act (2025-H 5390, 2025-S 0258), which would establish a VICTIM Fund grant program to support nonprofit organizations providing victim services in Rhode Island.

Click here to see news release

 

§  House, Senate oversight committees hear update on Washington Bridge
The House Committee on Oversight met jointly with the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight to hear an update on the demolition and reconstruction of the westbound side of Washington Bridge from Department of Transportation Director Peter L. Alviti. The westbound span of the Washington Bridge was closed on Dec. 11, 2023, after the Department of Transportation announced the critical failure of some original bridge components.
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Legislators and Working Families Party announce ‘Working Families Agenda’
    A diverse group of legislators announced their Working Families Agenda, a list of top priorities for the 2025 legislative session.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Shekarchi, Bissaillon mark opening of ECHO Village
    Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and Sen. Jacob E. Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) joined other officials to mark the opening of ECHO Village, the first pallet shelter village in Rhode Island, designed to help address the state’s homelessness crisis. The project was supported by state fiscal recovery funds, a Community Development Block Grant, and funding from the city of Providence.
    Click here to see news release.                                              

 

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.       

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