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                                                       

President Trump says he has greenlit the CIA to take action in Venezuela. In confirming the authorization on Wednesday, Trump was asked by reporters at the White House if the CIA had been given the greenlight to "take out" Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He refused to answer.        U.S. service members are getting paid for now, despite the government shutdown. The White House released a memo from President Trump directing the Pentagon to use unspent funds to pay the military. Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the move was a "temporary fix."        Temporary restraining orders stopping deployment of National Guard troops to Portland are being extended. A federal judge issued the ruling Wednesday as the two orders were set to expire this week. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is considering a stay from the federal government that could allow the troops to be deployed. The temporary restraining order has been extended to October 19th with the three-day trial set for October 29th.        Democrats are pressuring House Speaker Mike Johnson to seat Arizona Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva. Grijalva won the House seat of her father in a special election last month, but the House has not been in session since her election as the government shutdown continues. Lawmakers used a different tactic by marching to Johnson's office chanting, "swear her in," but the House Speaker was not in the Capitol during the protest.        Virginia Roberts Giuffre's [[ joo-FRAYs ]] posthumous memoir reveals the details of her first meeting with Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine [[ GHEE-lane ]] Maxwell. The first except released from "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice," details how the then-16-year-old Giuffre was working the spa desk at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago when Maxwell recruited her to go to Epstein's mansion to give the late convicted sex criminal a massage.        "KPop Demon Hunters" fans will get another chance to sing their hearts out in movie theaters. Netflix has announced "KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along" will return to theaters for three days starting on Halloween.       

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