Woonsocket Radio News Room

State House view from the southThis 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

 

 

§  Senate, House OK bill to provide regular reporting on the Washington Bridge

The Senate and House passed legislation (2024-S 2727A, 2024-H 7759A) introduced by Senate Majority Whip Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) to require regular monthly updates from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation on the state of the Washington Bridge. Each bill will now head to the opposite chamber for consideration.

Click here to see news release.

 

§ Bills from housing package approved by House of Representatives
The House approved three bills included in Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) 2024 housing package. One (2024-H 7983A) sponsored by Rep. Cherie Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket) clarifies the makeup and structure of the State Building Code Office and the role of the State Building Code Commissioner. Another (2024-H 7982), sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Middletown, Portsmouth), amends provisions pertaining to wetland buffers and projects for development, redevelopment, construction or rehabilitation. The third (2024-H 7984A), sponsored by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett), allows municipalities to count mobile homes as affordable housing under certain conditions. The bills have been sent to the Senate.

Click here to see Cruz release.
Click here to see Cortvriend release.
Click here to see McEntee release.

§ Senate OKs Lauria bill to help sexual assault victims access fund
The Senate approved legislation (2024-S 2767A) sponsored by Sen. Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) to enable victims of sexual assault to submit a medical forensic exam in lieu of a police report to establish eligibility for funds from the Crime Victim Compensation Program. Current law requires a police report for eligibility, but 70% of sexual assaults go unreported. The legislation now goes to the House, where Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, South Kingstown, Narragansett) is sponsoring companion legislation (2024-H 7449).
Click here to see news release.

§ Senate approves Bissaillon bill enabling more people to expunge misdemeanors
The Senate approved legislation (2024-S 2454) sponsored by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) removing a restriction that prevents those with a felony conviction from having up to five misdemeanors expunged from their record, as others can. The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) is sponsoring companion legislation (2024-H 7053). 

Click here to see news release.

§  Senate passes Cano bill requiring coverage for diagnosing and treating infertility

The Senate approved legislation (2024-S 2396) sponsored by Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) that mandates all insurance contracts, plans or policies provide coverage for the expense of diagnosing and treating infertility.  The measure now heads to the House, where Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) has introduced similar legislation (2024-H 7878).

Click here to see news release

 

§  House passes Baginski bill to prohibit synthetic media 90 days before elections

The House passed legislation (2024-H 7387A) sponsored by Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski (D-Dist. 17, Cranston) that would prohibit the dissemination of “synthetic media” for 90 days before an election. Synthetic media is defined as an image, an audio recording or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with digital technology to create a realistic but false image, audio or video.  The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) has introduced the legislation (2024-S 2456).       

Click here to see news release

 

§ Senate passes LaMountain bill to protect employees’ freedom of speech
The Senate passed legislation (2024-S 2785) introduced by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) that would protect the rights of employees in the workplace relating to free speech, assembly and religion as well as attendance at employer-sponsored meetings regarding political or religious matters. The measure now moves to the House, where similar legislation (2024-H 7106) has been introduced by Rep. Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate approves Chairwoman Euer’s Healthcare Provider Shield Act

The Senate voted to approve Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Dawn Euer’s (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) Healthcare Provider Shield Act (2024-S 2262A) to protect medical providers who provide transgender and reproductive health care services in Rhode Island from civil or criminal suits from other states. The measure now moves to the House, where Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton) has introduced similar legislation (2024-H 7577).

Click here to see news release.

 

§ Edwards bill takes aim at ‘deepfake’ porn; would include AI digital images
Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton) is sponsoring legislation (2024-H 8129) that takes aim at “deepfake” porn by amending Rhode Island’s existing revenge pornography statute that was enacted in 2018. It would include visual images that are created or manipulated by digitization, or without the consent of the person, within the purview of the crime of unauthorized dissemination of indecent material.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Ackerman introduces consumer protection bill for solar industry

Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) introduced legislation (2024-H 7603) to protect consumers and ensure a healthy solar industry by regulating businesses selling home solar systems under the Department of Business Regulation. Similar legislation (2024-S 2801A) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence).

Click here to see news release.

 

§ Newport legislators submit short-term rental bills
Rep. Lauren Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) and Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) have introduced legislation aimed at improving regulatory control over the short-term rental industry. Representative Carson is sponsoring legislation (2024-H 8182) to improve regulatory compliance and transparency and enabling local controls on the industry’s growth, and another bill (2024-H 8183) to make whole houses and condominiums subject to the hotel tax when rented short-term. She also introduced legislation (2024-H 8146) to extend a short-term rental study commission she leads, which issued an interim report this week. Senator Euer’s bill (2024-S 2020) would allow municipalities to charge a community impact fee of no more than 2% of the total charged to customers by short-term rental, for use on infrastructure, housing units and expenses incurred because of short-term rentals.
Click here to see Carson release.
Click here to see Euer release.

 

The FBI is confirming former President Trump was hit by a bullet at his Pennsylvania rally nearly two weeks ago. In a statement Friday, the agency said, "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces." Trump and his allies had pushed back on FBI Director Christopher Way's testimony to Congress earlier this week when he said it was not clear if a bullet or shrapnel had struck Trump's ear.       Vice President Harris is receiving the endorsement of Barack and Michelle Obama in the Democratic race for president. The former president and first lady released a video this morning showing Vice President Harris speaking on the phone with both of them. In a joint statement announcing the endorsement, the Obamas said, "There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people."       The Olympic flame is burning bright as the Summer Games are now officially open. The Opening Ceremony was held on the River Seine in Paris with hundreds of thousands of fans lined up to welcome athletes from around the world, including the more than 500 representing Team USA. LeBron James and Coco Gauff served as flagbearers for the U.S.        Airlines are preparing for the "revenge travel" boom to end, cutting ticket prices to fill seats amidst a more uncertain outlook. That's a sharp turnaround from a period of high air fares, when passengers were desperate to travel anywhere and airlines suffered from a shortage of planes. The cracks have largely come on shorter routes in the U.S. and Europe and in economy class, with more expensive seats in business and first class less affected.       The NBA is facing a lawsuit from Warner Bros. Discovery over its rejected television rights deal. The media company alleges the league breached its contracted when it chose to accept Amazon's bid instead of the one from W-B-D. TNT has aired NBA games since 1989 and is home to popular "Inside the NBA" studio show with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.        A new cereal mix combining three of Travis and Jason Kelce's childhood favorites is in the works. The Kelce brothers are partnering with General Mills to release the 'Kelce Mix Cereal,' which combines Reese's Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms and will hit shelves in September. The two mentioned the trio of General Mills cereals when they agreed on their favorite cereals on an episode of their New Heights podcast last December.       

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