Legislative Updates
2026
Creates the Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act.
- Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
- Representative Earl A. Read, III
- Representative Jenni A. Furtado
- Representative Megan L. Cotter
- Representative Terri Cortvriend
- Representative Mary Ann Shallcross Smith
- Representative Thomas E. Noret
- Representative Joseph M. McNamara
- Representative Cherie L. Cruz
- Representative Julie A. Casimiro
Creates the School Libraries Act.
- Senator Hanna M. Gallo
- Senator David P. Tikoian
- Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
- Senator Victoria Gu
- Senator Louis P. DiPalma
- Senator John P. Burke
- Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
- Senator Melissa A. Murray
- 01-16-2026
Introduced, referred to Senate Education
2025
An act making appropriations for the support of the State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
- Representative Marvin L. Abney
- 06-16-2025
Scheduled to be heard and /or considered in anticipation of House passage (06/18/2025)
- 06-17-2025
House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
- 06-17-2025
Referred to Senate Finance
- 06-18-2025
Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence
- 06-20-2025
Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
- 06-21-2025
Transmitted to Governor
- 06-29-2025
Effective without Governor's signature
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).
- 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
- 01-29-2025
Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
- 04-04-2025
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
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.
- 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
- 02-07-2025
Introduced, referred to House Finance
- 04-29-2025
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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.
- 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
- 02-12-2025
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
Creates the School Libraries Act.
- 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
- 02-13-2025
Introduced, referred to House Education
- 04-23-2025
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
The Freedom to Read Act: Promotes free expression and access of information by prohibiting the censorship of library materials.
- 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
- 04-03-2025
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 06-12-2025
Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- 06-16-2025
House passed Sub A
- 06-20-2025
Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
- 06-27-2025
Transmitted to Governor
- 07-02-2025
Signed by Governor
House Resolution commemorating April 6-12, 2025 as "National Library Week" in the State of Rhode Island.
- Representative Christopher G. Paplauskas
- Representative Robert J. Quattrocchi
- Representative Michael W. Chippendale
- Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski
- Representative David Morales
- Representative Earl A. Read, III
- Representative Brian C. Newberry
- Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
- Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
- Representative Thomas E. Noret
- 04-08-2025
House read and passed
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.
- 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
- 02-07-2025
Introduced, referred to Senate Education
- 03-19-2025
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 04-02-2025
Committee recommends passage
- 04-08-2025
Senate read and passed
- 04-09-2025
Referred to House State Government & Elections
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.
- Senator Tiara T. Mack
- Senator Victoria Gu
- Senator Peter A. Appollonio, Jr.
- Senator Bridget G. Valverde
- Senator Valarie J. Lawson
- Senator Meghan E. Kallman
- 02-07-2025
Introduced, referred to Senate Education
- 03-12-2025
Committee continued