Rhode Island Senate

Two new laws sponsored by Pam Lauria, RI Senator D32 and Senator Robert Britto, as well as Representative Jennifer Boylan D66, and supported by the rest of the East Providence delegation will streamline the payment schedule of state reimbursement to East Providence to improve city cash flows and reduce borrowing costs.

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Yesterday, Senators Sandra Cano and Jonathon Acosta, along with Representative Karen Alzate and Representative Joshua Giraldo - Central Falls, hosted a celebration of Colombian Independence Day at the State House.

Watch the full event here: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/9488?site=1

Today at 5 p.m., four Rhode Island legislators of Colombian descent will be hosting the 214th Colombian Independence Day celebration in the State Room of the State House.

The event is hosted by Senators Sandra Cano and Jonathon Acosta, along with Representative Karen Alzate and Representative Joshua Giraldo - Central Falls.

Watch the event here: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

Learn more: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374811

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Today, legislative leaders joined Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)'s Rhode Island chapter, and community advocates and partners to highlight public safety legislation passed in 2024 to extend the “lookback” period for impaired driving offenses from five years to 10 years. Additionally, they recommitted to the cause of holding accountable those who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol in Rhode Island, especially repeat DUI offenders.

“The sad truth is that many offenders, especially those who have been caught driving under the influence, don’t learn until they cause permanent injury to someone, or even death,” said Senator Sue Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown), who sponsored the legislation. “The problem seems to be only getting worse and this law is desperately needed to reverse this alarming and troubling trend.”

Other members of the Senate in attendance were State Senator Leonidas Lou Raptakis, Senator David P. Tikoian and Senator John Burke District 9 West Warwick Rhode Island.

Learn more: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374812

Two new laws sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Lauren Carson will enable Newport to raise its landing and boarding fees for cruise ships and to seek city voters’ approval in November for a $98.5 million bond for infrastructure improvements. Both bills were backed by the City Council, approved by the General Assembly in mid-June and signed into law by Gov. Daniel McKee last week.

“Cruise ships bring many thousands of visitors into our city, but since they aren’t staying in our hotels, and many, if not most, aren’t dining in our restaurants, landing and docking fees are essentially the only direct avenue the city has to benefit financially when cruise ships visit. Especially at a time when we need to make substantial investments in some of the infrastructure that keeps our shoreline intact and enables cruise passengers to visit, the city should be able to bring these fees in line with those of similar destinations,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown).

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A new legislative study commission will look for ways to improve the statewide school transportation system under a resolution sponsored by RI State Senator Linda Ujifusa, District 11 and Terri Cortvriend, RI State Representative District 72 and now signed by Gov. Daniel McKee.

The joint resolution, which passed the General Assembly June 13 and was signed by the governor last week, creates a 13-member commission that will be charged with studying the transportation needs of students, the most cost-effective way of meeting them and what changes need to be made to the state’s laws governing the statewide transportation program.

“Many school districts are facing enormous costs for transporting students to schools across far-flung regions, and they have no control over the cost of the statewide transportation system, or the size of the region to which they are assigned. At the very least, after nearly a half-century of this system, we should review this program to make it more efficient, cost-effective and beneficial to our students,” said Senator Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol).

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A new law sponsored by Sen. Lou DiPalma and Rep. Arthur Corvese will soon require that all health care facilities in Rhode Island have a functioning automated external defibrillator and a person trained in its use.

Automated external defibrillators (AED) analyze a person’s heartbeat and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. Since 2017, Rhode Island law has required public places with a capacity of 300 or more people to keep one on site, and to have at least one person trained to use it.

The legislation, which was approved by the General Assembly June 13 and signed by Gov. Daniel McKee last week, will ensure that health care facilities, regardless of capacity, are subject to the same requirement. The requirement takes effect Sept. 1 and includes hospitals, nursing facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, treatment centers, school and neighborhood health centers and the like, as well as physicians’, dentists’ and other health care providers’ offices.

“AEDs are easy to use and should be standard in any health care facility. Seconds matter when a person goes into cardiac arrest, and their chances of survival are vastly improved if there is an AED available,” said Sen. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Little Compton, Tiverton).

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Legislation sponsored by Senator Mark McKenney and Terri Cortvriend, RI State Representative District 72 to simplify wetlands zoning regulations to prevent unnecessary complications that discourage housing development has been signed into law.

The bill, which passed the General Assembly June 13 and was signed by Gov. Daniel McKee June 25, was part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s 15-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.

The legislation took effect immediately, amending provisions relative to zoning ordinances pertaining to wetland buffers to projects for development, redevelopment, construction or rehabilitation. It makes clear that there can be no local regulation of coastal wetlands and freshwater wetlands beyond the requirements of the state agency requirements. The legislation does not take away any responsibility from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) or the Department of Environmental Management (DEM).

“My district is both coastal and densely developed. I’m attuned to the importance of protecting our wetlands from encroachment. But realistically, the patchwork of state and local regulatory processes and requirements are prohibitively complicated. All our wetlands deserve the same strong level of protection, and we have state agencies that are resourced and capable of enforcing them. Making them uniform statewide tells developers more clearly what the standards are, so they can do the work of building development, particularly housing, that our state needs,” said Senator McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).

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A newly signed law sponsored by State Senator Meghan Kallman and State Rep Evan Shanley will establish a convenient, low-cost public-option retirement savings program for Rhode Islanders.

“Most of us will reach an age when we will want to stop working however for thousands of workers in Rhode Islander this is not an option because they do not have money set aside for retirement,” said Senator Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence). “Secure Choice is a convenient, portable, voluntary IRA managed by the state that works directly through workers’ jobs; essentially a public-option IRA for those whose employers do not offer one. I also want to thank Treasurer Diossa and his team along with the huge collation of community advocates who all did an enormous amount of work to develop this legislation and move it across the finish line.”

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Gov. Dan McKee has signed legislation from State Senator Tiara Mack and Rep. Tina Spears to commission a report from the Department of Administration to study the creation of a statewide Geographic Information System.

The legislation is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s 15-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.

“A comprehensive statewide GIS is a vital tool to making all kinds of decisions about development and conservation in Rhode Island. However, before launching into this project we have to understand the scope of this project, the support and staffing that will be required and the work that municipalities have already done in this area. This legislation will get us this report quickly so that we can take the next steps when the next legislative session begins,” said Senator Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence).

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A new law sponsored by Sen. Sandra Cano and RI State Representative Teresa Tanzi will create a grant program to address the shortage of medical professionals while increasing the diversity of the health care workforce to match the diversity of Rhode Island’s communities.

The legislation, which was signed into law Wednesday, will establish the Ladders to Licensure program, a grant program administered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to assist health care paraprofessionals to access higher education, with a focus on behavioral health and nursing.

“Our health care paraprofessionals have the workplace experience that makes them ideal candidates for higher education in medicine,” said Senator Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket). “This grant program will open a pathway for many to level up their education and training, increasing their job opportunities and standard of living while diversifying our state’s health care workforce and addressing much needed shortages.”

Learn more: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374781

Gov. Dan McKee has signed legislation sponsored by RI State Senator Victoria Gu, District 38 and Rep. Tina Spears to mandate the creation and maintenance of a statewide coastal resiliency plan, the Act on Coasts. The plan will assess community vulnerabilities, recommend mitigation strategies along ocean and riverine coasts, and recommend financing strategies to implement these resiliency strategies.

The 2021 Act on Climate already mandates a statewide climate change resiliency plan. This legislation adds a dedicated coastal resiliency plan to that mandate and ensures that it be reviewed and updated at least every two years, as coastal conditions in Rhode Island change and mitigation strategies evolve.

“In the past year we’ve seen repeated and severe flooding and erosion along our coasts and rivers statewide. We have to do more to adapt so that we don’t lose the places we love in South County,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). “While work is already underway across the state to mitigate these adverse effects, we need to integrate all the federal, municipal, and state efforts into a comprehensive and actionable plan.”

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A new law sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer and Rep. Art Handy will prepare Rhode Island for the development of electric energy storage systems as it moves away from carbon emission-producing fuels and toward renewable energy.

The legislation, which was signed into law Wednesday, sets a series of benchmarks for energy storage capacity for Rhode Island’s power grid and directs the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank and the Office of Energy Resources to develop and fund programs to meet these goals.

“Rhode Island is a leader in our commitment to ending our reliance on polluting carbon-emitting energy. Keeping that commitment means we need to innovate and we need to do it at speed,” said Chairwoman Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown). “Moving to renewable electricity means we are going to need the structures — both physical and regulatory — to store energy. This bill sets concrete goals and action plans to build a resilient grid that can accommodate the green energy transition that is happening now. This is just one of many actions we will need to meet our diverse energy goals and ensure that Rhode Island keeps its commitment to a carbon-neutral future.”

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A newly signed law sponsored by RI State Senator Bridget Valverde and Rep. Rebecca Kislak - Dist. 4 RI will ensure that women with dense breast tissue receive the most up-to-date notification following their mammograms. The bill was approved by the General Assembly June 13 and signed by Gov. Daniel McKee June 25.

The legislation eliminated parts of the previous notification law, which spelled out exactly the language that must be included in every letter sent to women after a mammogram determines they have dense breast tissue, telling them they may benefit from supplemental screenings because dense tissue makes it harder to detect cancer.

Under the new law, which took effect immediately, the notification will instead use the language mandated by the Federal Drug Administration National Reporting Standard for breast density.

“The federal standards about dense breast notification letters has changed many times, and each time, Rhode Island has had to change this law to keep up with it. With this update, our law will always ensure that the letters Rhode Islanders are receiving provide up-to-date recommendations. It matters that the information provided in that letter is accurate and provides the best current advice about what to do next,” said Sen. Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown).

Learn more: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374777

A new law sponsored by Senator Melissa Murray and RI State Representative David Morales will codify and extend the state’s winter utility termination moratorium, which protects those struggling with their utility bills from energy shut-offs during the coldest months.

Under Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulations, electricity and gas providers are restricted from shutting off residential utility services for nonpayment during the state’s winter utility termination moratorium, which before the new law took effect, ran from Nov. 1 to April 15 of each year. The new law extends it to May 1.

The legislation, which passed the General Assembly June 13 and was signed by Gov. Daniel McKee June 25, provides two more weeks of protection while also enshrining these protections into law. It maintains the PUC’s discretion to extend the period further at any time based on conditions and customers’ needs. The legislation took effect immediately, making Rhode Island’s winter moratorium one of the longest among states that have them.

“We need to stop thinking about utility shut-offs as a dollars-and-cents issue and focus on the very real human consequences they have. Losing heat, hot water or electricity, particularly at a time of year when the weather is unpredictable and can still get very cold, is a health and safety hazard that forces people into impossible choices and dangerous decisions. It’s a problem that disproportionately affects people of color and other populations that face many other challenges as well,” said Senator Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield). “Adding two more weeks to the moratorium extends the safety it provides and protects some of the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders, including many children and elderly people on fixed incomes.”

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A new law sponsored by State Senator Meghan Kallman and Terri Cortvriend, RI State Representative District 72 will ban so-called “forever chemicals” in Rhode Island.

The legislation, which was signed into law Wednesday after passage by the General Assembly, will ban most Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from products sold and manufactured in Rhode Island.

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s that have detrimental health effects, especially for pregnant women and children, and have been shown to disrupt fertility and endocrine function.

“PFAS are called forever chemicals for a reason,” said Senator Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence). “Thanks to this legislative action, we can stop pumping these harmful substances into our water, food and homes, where they remain forever, sickening our communities just to pad the profits of plastics companies.”

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Following General Assembly passage earlier this month, the governor has signed legislation sponsored by Alana DiMario RI State Senator District 36 and Rep. Rebecca Kislak - Dist. 4 RI to make several changes that give parents more insight and control in changes in their child’s individualized education plan (IEP), and set the wheels in motion for a much-needed overhaul of the state’s IEP regulations.

The legislation, which Gov. Dan McKee signed June 24, will allow parents and guardians to approve or reject changes in their child’s educational services, allow parents to observe their child’s classroom prior to placement, and would require that any documents being considered at an IEP meeting be provided to parents at least three days in advance. Those changes will take effect July 1, 2026.

The legislation was developed over the course of the past two years with input and feedback from representatives of the Department of Education (RIDE) and members of advocacy groups including Rhode Island Parent Information Network, the Association of Rhode Island Administrators of Special Education (ARIASE), the Rhode Island Center for Justice and others.

“This bill is not in intended to diminish the expertise of the professionals whose job it is to create IEPs and deliver the educational services that each child needs; its intent is to strengthen the critical partnership between them and families. Parents are invaluable partners in their children’s education, helping to prepare them for school and any upcoming changes, and ensuring that they have access to information and a strong voice will benefit their students,” said Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham).

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The governor has signed legislation sponsored by State Senator Meghan Kallman and Rep. Jose F. Batista and approved by the General Assembly to help encourage housing production in Rhode Island by requiring towns to publish lists of abandoned properties.

The new law, which Gov. Daniel McKee signed June 24, is part of House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s 15-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis.

“Getting abandoned properties redeveloped is always good for the neighborhood, the municipality and the state. This bill would add another layer of value to that redevelopment by helping to incentivize affordable housing creation in neighborhoods that are in great need of more of it. Offering a list of available abandoned properties is an easy way to invite investment in revitalization and affordable housing,” said Senator Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence).

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During an event at Thundermist Health Center in Woonsocket earlier today, Governor Dan McKee signed three bills into law that support reproductive health care and those who identify as LGBTQ+ in Rhode Island.

The new laws, sponsored in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer, State Senator Tiara Mack, and Senator Melissa Murray, now provide legal shielding for health care providers administering gender-affirming or reproductive care; eliminate pre-authorization for HIV prescriptions; and outline the process in which a person can legally change their name in the city of town where they live.

Watch the event here: https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/9480?site=1

Learn more about the Health Care Provider Shield Act: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374768

Learn more about the elimination of barriers to HIV prevention prescriptions: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374772

Learn more about the inclusive name change law: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374770

Legislation sponsored by Senator Melissa Murray and Mary Ann Shallcross Smith Representative to protect Rhode Islanders from credit problems resulting from medical debts has been signed into law.

The legislation, which Gov. Dan McKee signed June 24 following Assembly passage June 11, will prohibit debt collectors from reporting all medical debt to credit bureaus. It also sets rules for communication with consumers, false and misleading representation by debt collectors and a prohibition against collections during insurance appeals. The bill will take effect Jan. 1.

The consumer-protection bill was included in the Rhode Island HEALTH initiative (Holistic Enhancement and Access Legislation for Total Health) put forward by Senate leaders to improve health care access and affordability in Rhode Island.

“In a recent survey by healthcare.com, all living generations reported that medical debts had harmed their credit scores, with millennials reporting the highest incidence, at 52 percent. Medical debts have significant long-term financial consequences, preventing individuals from getting home loans or other credit they need and causing some to make harmful sacrifices such as not paying rent or utilities or buying food or medicine. The stress they cause can exacerbate a person’s health problems further,” said Senator Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield). “This bill is a measure to prevent medical debt from sending Rhode Islanders into a financial downward spiral for something over which they had no control.”

Learn more: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374766

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Legislation has been signed into law to protect patients from an insurance scheme called “white bagging” that interferes with how prescribed drugs are delivered and administered. The legislation, which was passed by the General Assembly earlier this month, was sponsored by RI State Senator Linda Ujifusa, District 11 and Representative Justine Caldwell.

White bagging refers to a practice where insurers require patients to get their prescriptions from insurer-affiliated pharmacies that are often mail order-only. The bill, which was signed by Gov. Dan McKee June 24, prohibits this practice.

“White bagging makes money for middlemen, but creates waste, barriers to care and disruptions to the patient-provider relationship. Across the country, state legislators are looking to audit and rein in insurers and their PBMs. This bill shows Rhode Island is prepared to join the movement to restrain vertically integrated middlemen conglomerates from making money by limiting provider care for patients,” said Senator Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol).

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Legislation sponsored by RI State Senator Victoria Gu, District 38 and June Speakman, RI State Representative, District 68, Bristol & Warren to help Rhode Islanders to develop accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property has been signed into law. The legislation is intended as a way to boost production of an affordable housing option.

ADUs, sometimes referred to as in-law apartments or granny flats, are accessories to existing housing, created as a conversion of part of a house (such as a walkout basement), an attachment to a house or a smaller, detached dwelling. They have become increasingly popular around the country in recent years as states and municipalities balance the need to create more housing while preserving the character of residential neighborhoods. Seniors, especially, have taken to ADUs as a way to downsize while continuing to live independently in their community.

The legislation was written in collaboration with stakeholders and advocates, including AARP, for which increasing production of ADUs has been a primary policy goal for several years.

“ADUs offer the ‘missing middle:’ housing that is smaller, more affordable and smartly repurposes our existing buildings and garages. Homeowners can be a part of the solution to the housing crisis by creating or converting a garage, basement or shed into an ADU and offering it as a long-term rental. Then they have the benefit of receiving some additional income or housing a loved one, friend or onsite caregiver. It’s a win-win,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown).

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