Print

This Week at the General Assembly

                            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

 

 

 

 

 

 

The General Assembly approved legislation (2025-H 5273A, 2025-S 0343A) sponsored by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) and Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln) that would require all full-time lifeguards, park and forest rangers who work at any public beach or facility to be trained in administering opioid antagonists, such as Narcan. The legislation now heads to the governor for consideration.

 

Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

§  Legislature approves bill to require AEDs on golf courses
The General Assembly gave its approval to the David Casey Act (2025-H 5083A, 2025-S 0475A) introduced by Rep. Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston) and Sen. Andrew R. Dimitri (D-Dist. 25, Johnston), which would add public and private golf courses to the list of places where automatic external defibrillators are required by law. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

§  Assembly OKs bill renewing state’s commitment to harm reduction program
The General Assembly passed legislation (29025-H 5171Aaa) introduced by Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton) that would extend a four-year pilot program to prevent drug overdoses through the establishment of harm reduction centers, which are a community-based resource for health screening, disease prevention and recovery assistance where persons may consume pre-obtained substances with supervision. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.

 

§  Senate OKs bill to protect homeowners from predatory real estate schemes
The Senate approved legislation (2025-S 0133A) introduced by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) to prohibit an unfair real estate practice that is often targeted at older homeowners, sometimes resulting in a lien against their property or other problems. The measure now moves to the House, which has passed companion legislation (2025-H 5185A) introduced by Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth).
Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

§  House passes Kennedy bill that would regulate the distribution of kratom
The House of Representatives passed the Rhode Island Kratom Act (2025-H 5565A) introduced by Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly), which would regulate the distribution of kratom, a natural substance grown primarily in Indonesia that is used by people to overcome opioid addiction, withdrawal, and to treat anxiety, depression and other ailments. The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2025-S 0792) has been introduced by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick)
Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

 

The Senate passed legislation (2025-S 0825) introduced by Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston) that would fund the state Crime Victim Compensation Program through an additional $1 fine on traffic violations. Parking violations would be exempt under the legislation. The Crime Victim Compensation Program provides direct cash assistance to innocent victims of crime in Rhode Island. The legislation now heads to the House where Rep. Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence) has introduced the bill (2025-H 5739).

 

Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

 

The Senate passed legislation (2025-S 0523) sponsored by Sen. Brian J. Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) that would require commercial driver instruction to include industry-specific training on the recognition, prevention, and reporting of human trafficking. The bill now heads to the House where Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland) has introduced the legislation (2025-H 5231). 

 

Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

§  House OKs McGaw bill enabling natural organic reduction, alkaline hydrolysis
The House approved legislation (2025-H 5110) sponsored by Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) to provide Rhode Islanders two greener alternatives to burial or cremation: natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis. The bill now goes to the Senate where Sen. Tiara Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence) has introduced companion legislation (2025-S 0195).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate approves PURPLE alert bill for missing individuals with disabilities

 

The Senate approved legislation (2025-S 0983A) sponsored by Sen. Todd M. Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston) to establish a “PURPLE alert” system to help quickly find missing adults with serious disabilities whose health and safety is at risk. The bill now moves to the House, which has already passed companion legislation (2025-H 6165A) sponsored by Rep. Tina L. Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) and drafted in collaboration with Rep. Christopher G. Paplauskas (R-Dist. 15, Cranston).

 

Click here to see news release.

 

 

 

§  House OKs Providence tax cap bill; Senate hears bills to raise revenue for city
The House granted leeway to Providence to exceed the state’s 4% limit on property tax levy increases for one year, primarily to comply with a settlement to address three decades of underfunding city schools. The legislation (2025-H 6162), sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) by request of the City Council and Mayor Brett P. Smiley, allows Providence to increase its tax levy by up to 8% for Fiscal Year 2026 only. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where the Senate Finance Committee heard companion legislation (2025-S 1041) sponsored by Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence) on the city’s behalf. Meanwhile, the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee held hearings on several bills to raise revenue for Providence: A bill (2025-S 1114) sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston) authorizing Providence to adopt progressive tax rates on residential properties exceeding $1 million per unit; one (2025-S 1115) by Sen. Samuel W. Bell (D-Dist. 5, Providence) empowering the city to bill nonprofit colleges for municipal services if they fail to reach a fair payment in lieu of taxes agreement; and another (2025-S 1116) sponsored by Sen. Jacob E. Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) allowing Providence to create a tax classification for industrial properties with a higher rate than commercial properties.

 

Click here to see House news release.

 

Click here to see Senate news release.