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 re-elected Speaker; lists housing, doctor shortage as top priorities

Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) was re-elected to lead the House of Representatives as the 2025-2026 term began. He outlined a legislative agenda topped by addressing the state’s affordable housing and homelessness crises, and pledged to address a primary care doctor shortage, a sizeable budget deficit and investigate the state’s failed westbound Washington Bridge.

 

§  Senate President Ruggerio re-elected; lays out legislative priorities for 2025
Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) was once again chosen to preside over the Senate for its 2025-2026 term, laying out the agenda for the year. Ruggerio spoke of the great challenges facing the legislature, including a looming budget deficit. He announced that the Senate will establish a new Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies to focus on policy related to the legal, societal and ethical implications of those technologies.

 

  • New senators sworn into office

Six new members of the Rhode Island Senate joined their colleagues and took the oath of office on Tuesday. Senators Peter Appollonio Jr. (D-Dist. 29, Warwick), Andrew Dimitri (D-Dist. 25, Johnston), Todd Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), Brian Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland), Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) and Lammis Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) were sworn into office by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

 

  • New representatives take oath of office

Six new members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives joined their colleagues and took the oath of office on Tuesday. Representatives Jenni A. Furtado (D-Dist. 64, East Providence), Earl A. Read III (D-Dist. 26, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), Richard Fascia (R-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston), Marie Hopkins (R-Dist. 21, Warwick), Christopher G. Paplauskas (R-Dist. 15, Cranston) and Paul Santucci (R-Dist. 53, Smithfield, Glocester) were sworn into office by Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

 

  • New committee chairs appointed in Senate
    Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) appointed new leaders for several committees for the 2025-2026 term. The Judiciary Committee will be chaired by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston). Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) will lead the Health and Human Services Committee. Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) will chair the Education Committee. The Environment and Agriculture Committee will be led by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown). Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) will lead the Commerce Committee. Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) will chair the Housing and Municipal Government Committee.

 

  • State leaders, advocates celebrate greater paid family leave, child care eligibility
    Leaders from the General Assembly, McKee administration, advocates and families with young children gathered at the Federal Hill House Early Learning Center in Providence Thursday to celebrate the implementation of two important programs that support Rhode Island young children and working families: the expansion of Rhode Island’s Temporary Caregivers Insurance program to seven weeks of paid family leave, and the expansion of eligibility for Rhode Island’s Child Care Assistance Program to families earning 261% of the federal poverty level, the highest level in state history.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • House Speaker addresses Interfaith Coalition poverty vigil at State House
    Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) spoke to a gathering of the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty as the organization marked its 17th annual vigil at the State House Tuesday. Speaker Shekarchi told those assembled “We’re making progress, but progress is not enough until all Rhode Islanders have a safe place to live and enough food to eat.”

 

  • Legislators call on governor to declare homelessness a public health emergency
    A group of 46 legislators called on Gov. Dan McKee to declare homelessness a public health emergency. “Your leadership is needed now to protect and save the lives of Rhode Islanders across our state, including our working-class neighbors, our children, and our veterans,” they said in their statement to the governor.

Click here to see news release.                                                          

 

The Senate is powering through overnight negotiations on President Trump's massive spending bill. Republicans are still hashing out key disagreements this morning over Medicaid cuts and green energy tax breaks. Two GOP senators have already said they'll vote no, joining every Democrat. Just two more Republicans opposed could sink the bill, which is projected to add over three-trillion dollars to the national debt over the next decade. If it passes the Senate, the bill heads back to the House for a vote tomorrow.        President Trump heads to Florida today to open a controversial new immigration detention center nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz." Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says the grand opening is happening today, with Trump on site. The facility, built in the Everglades near Miami-Dade, is designed to hold undocumented immigrants as part of what Trump's team calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.        The suspect in the firefighter ambush shooting in Idaho is identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley. Kootenai [[ koot-ten-nay ]] County Sheriff Bob Norris says Roley shot and killed two firefighters and wounded another before shooting and killing himself. Norris said authorities had had contact with Roley in the past over minor incidents, but he did not have a criminal record.        The second day of jury deliberations in the Sean "Diddy" Combs" begins this morning. Combs has spent the last six weeks on trial as he faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges.        Fourth of July travel is set to surge as millions of Americans hit the road and skies. Triple-A expects more than 72 million people to travel for the holiday, most of them by car. The busiest days will be tomorrow and Sunday, July 6th. Meanwhile, TSA says it will screen over 18 million airline passengers between today and next Monday.        The WNBA is growing to 18 teams. On Monday, the league announced its adding teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. Cleveland will join the WNBA in 2028 followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030.