Legislative Updates

2024

S 2514:

Provides for the legal governance of licensed electronic literacy materials.

Read the full text for S 2514 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
  • Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
Actions:
  • 03-01-2024

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 04-05-2024
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/10/2024)

  • 04-10-2024

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Companion Bill: H 7508
S 2520:

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 S 2520 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Sandra Cano
Actions:
  • 03-01-2024

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 04-05-2024
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/10/2024)

  • 04-10-2024

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

S 2589:

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 2024, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.

Read the full text for S 2589 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator John P. Burke
  • Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator David P. Tikoian
  • Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
Actions:
  • 03-01-2024

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Companion Bill: H 7335
S 2742:

Modernizes all state library laws by eliminating the clearinghouse advisory committee, updating how the clearinghouse publishes its list of publications, reducing the number of physical copies and facilitating digital publication.

Read the full text for S 2742 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
Actions:
  • 03-08-2024

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 04-05-2024
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/10/2024)

  • 04-10-2024

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 05-10-2024
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (05/14/2024)

  • 05-14-2024

    Committee recommends passage

  • 05-14-2024
    Senate Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar (05/21/2024)

  • 05-21-2024

    Senate read and passed

  • 05-23-2024

    Referred to House State Government & Elections

  • 05-28-2024
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (05/30/2024)

  • 05-30-2024

    Committee recommends passage in concurrence

  • 05-31-2024
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/04/2024)

  • 06-04-2024

    House passed in concurrence

  • 06-12-2024

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 06-17-2024

    Signed by Governor

Companion Bill: H 7475
S 2977:

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 7-13, 2024 to be "National Library Week" in the State of Rhode Island.

Read the full text for S 2977 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Frank S. Lombardi
  • Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
  • Senator Linda L. Ujifusa
  • Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
  • Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
Actions:
  • 04-09-2024

    Recommended for Immediate Consideration

  • 04-09-2024

    Senate read and passed

2023

H 5095:

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 2023, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.

Read the full text for H 5095 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski
  • Representative Camille F.J Vella-Wilkinson
  • Representative Lauren H. Carson
  • Representative June Speakman
  • Representative Michael W. Chippendale
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Teresa Ann Tanzi
  • Representative Leonela Felix
Actions:
  • 11-02-2023

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

  • 04-14-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/19/2023)

  • 04-19-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5148:

Requires publishers to provide electronic book licenses to libraries and schools on reasonable terms, when a publishers offers to license electronic books and digital audiobooks to the public in Rhode Island.

Read the full text for H 5148 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Lauren Carson
  • Representative Terri Cortvriend
  • Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
  • Representative Justine A. Caldwell
  • Representative June Speakman
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
Actions:
  • 01-18-2023

    Introduced, referred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

  • 02-24-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/02/2023)

  • 03-02-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5432:

Requires Internet service providers to follow net neutrality requirements serving consumers/state as well as awarding of state contracts with violations resulting in penalty provisions for deceptive trade practice.

Read the full text for H 5432 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
  • Representative David Morales
Actions:
  • 02-08-2023

    Introduced, referred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

  • 02-24-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/02/2023)

  • 03-02-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5615:

Includes all books, periodicals and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society to be placed under of the care of the state librarian.

Read the full text for H 5615 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Leonela Felix
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Marvin L. Abney
  • Representative Raymond A. Hull
  • Representative Brianna E. Henries
  • Representative Cherie L. Cruz
  • Representative Jose F. Batista
  • Representative Enrique George Sanchez
  • Representative Karen Alzate
Actions:
  • 02-15-2023

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

  • 03-10-2023

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

  • 03-13-2023
    Agenda

    Committee postponed at request of sponsor (03/14/2023)

  • 03-31-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/05/2023)

  • 04-05-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-09-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (06/12/2023)

  • 06-12-2023

    Committee recommends passage

  • 06-12-2023
    House Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/13/2023)

  • 06-13-2023

    House read and passed

  • 06-13-2023
    Senate Consent Calendar

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar (06/14/2023)

  • 06-14-2023

    Senate passed in concurrence

  • 06-15-2023

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 06-20-2023

    Signed by Governor

Companion Bill: S 0445
H 5671:

Repeals the requirement that the school committee policy manual be kept in the school library, public library and administrative building and require that the manual be available on the school district website.

Read the full text for H 5671 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski
  • Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
Actions:
  • 02-17-2023

    Introduced, referred to House Education

  • 03-10-2023

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

  • 03-15-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study