Official State of Rhode Island website

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State of Rhode Island, Office of Library & Information Services , An agency of the Department of Administration

Legislative Updates

2025

H 5225:

The Protected Spaces Act: Limits the ability for any federal immigration authority to investigate, detain, apprehend or arrest any individuals for potential violations of federal immigration laws without a judicial warrant within certain protected locations (including public libraries).

Read the full text for H 5225 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Karen Alzate
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Julie A. Casimiro
  • Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Jennifer Smith Boylan
  • Representative Enrique George Sanchez
  • Representative Brandon T. Voas
  • Representative Edith H. Ajello
  • Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
Actions:
  • 01-29-2025

    Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

Companion Bill: S 0537
H 5400:

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2026.

Read the full text for H 5400 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Cherie L. Cruz
  • Representative Matt S. Dawson
  • Representative Carol Hagan McEntee
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
  • Representative John J. Lombardi
  • Representative Teresa Ann Tanzi
  • Representative Robert Craven
Actions:
  • 02-07-2025

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

Companion Bill: S 0453
H 5459:

House Resolution: Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.

Read the full text for H 5459 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Mary Duffy Messier
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
  • Representative John G. Edwards
  • Representative Arthur Handy
  • Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Mary Ann Shallcross Smith
  • Representative Patricia A. Serpa
  • Representative Terri Cortvriend
  • Representative Deborah A. Fellela
Actions:
  • 02-12-2025

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Companion Bill: S 0177
H 5488:

Creates the School Libraries Act.

Read the full text for H 5488 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative June Speakman
  • Representative Jennifer Smith Boylan
  • Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Teresa Ann Tanzi
  • Representative John J. Lombardi
  • Representative Cherie L. Cruz
Actions:
  • 02-13-2025

    Introduced, referred to House Education

Companion Bill: S 0178
H 5726:

The Freedom to Read Act: Promotes free expression and access of information by prohibiting the censorship of library materials.

Read the full text for H 5726 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Jennifer A. Stewart
  • Representative Christopher G. Paplauskas
  • Representative Jennifer Smith Boylan
  • Representative Lauren H. Carson
  • Representative Megan L. Cotter
  • Representative Edith H. Ajello
  • Representative June Speakman
  • Representative Arthur Handy
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
Actions:
  • 02-26-2025

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Companion Bill: S 0238
S 0177:

Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.

Read the full text for S 0177 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Jonathon Acosta
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Dawn Euer
  • Senator Samuel D. Zurier
  • Senator Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.
  • Senator Melissa A. Murray
  • Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
  • Senator Ana B. Quezada
Actions:
  • 02-07-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

Companion Bill: H 5459
S 0178:

The School Libraries Act: Requires every public school in Rhode Island to have a school library or library media center in a permanent and dedicated space available to students in grades K-12 with a librarian available.

Read the full text for S0178 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Meghan E. Kallman
Actions:
  • 02-07-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 03-07-2025

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2025)

  • 03-12-2025

    Committee continued

Companion Bill: H 5488
S 0238:

The Freedom to Read Act: Promotes free expression and access of information by prohibiting the censorship of library materials.

Read the full text for S 0238 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator David P. Tikoian
  • Senator Robert Britto
Actions:
  • 02-13-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 03-07-2025

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2025)

  • 03-12-2025

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Companion Bill: H 5726
S 0453:

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2026.

Read the full text for S 0453 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator Robert Britto
  • Senator John P. Burke
  • Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
  • Senator Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.
  • Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
  • Senator Melissa A. Murray
  • Senator Alana DiMario
  • Senator Andrew R. Dimitri
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
Actions:
  • 02-26-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Fiance

Companion Bill: H 5400
S 0537:

The Protected Spaces Act: Limits the ability for any federal immigration authority to investigate, detain, apprehend or arrest any individuals for potential violations of federal immigration laws without a judicial warrant within certain protected locations (including public libraries).

Read the full text for S 0537 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Jonathon Acosta
  • Senator Ana B. Quezada
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Samuel W. Bell
Actions:
  • 02-26-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Companion Bill: H 5225
S 0639:

Creates the School Libraries Act.

Read the full text for S 0639 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator David P. Tikoian
  • Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
  • Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
Actions:
  • 03-07-2025

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 03-07-2025

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2025)

  • 03-12-2025

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Companion Bill: H 5488