Legislative Updates

2023

H 6066:

Establishes, as an affirmative defense to the crimes of circulating obscene publications or shows and selling or exhibiting obscene publications to minors, the person’s employment status as an employee of a school, museum, or library.

Read the full text for H 6066 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative David Morales
  • Representative Enrique George Sanchez
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
  • Representative Leonela Felix
Actions:
  • 03-03-2023

    Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

  • 03-10-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/16/2023)

  • 03-16-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

S 0445:

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

Read the full text for S 0445 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Robert Britto
  • Senator Jonathon Acosta
  • Senator Linda L. Ujifusa
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Pamela J. Lauria
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Meghan E. Kallman
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Alana DiMario
Actions:
  • 02-16-2023

    Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

  • 05-12-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/17/2023)

  • 05-17-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-02-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (06/06/2023)

  • 06-06-2023

    Committee recommends passage

  • 06-06-2023
    Senate Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar (06/13/2023)

  • 06-08-2023

    Senate read and passed

  • 06-09-2023

    Referred to House State Government & Elections

  • 06-12-2023
    House Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/13/2023)

  • 06-13-2023

    House passed in concurrence

  • 06-15-2023

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 06-20-2023

    Signed by Governor

Companion Bill: H 5615
S 0494 as amended:

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 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 S 0494 as amended at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Frank Lombardo III
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
  • Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
Actions:
  • 03-07-2023

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 05-26-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/31/2023)

  • 05-31-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-05-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (06/07/2023)

  • 06-07-2023

    Committee recommends passage

  • 06-07-2023
    Senate Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar

  • 06-08-2023

    Senate passed as amended (floor amendment)

  • 06-10-2023
    House Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/12/2023)

  • 06-12-2023

    House passed as amended in concurrence

  • 06-14-2023

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 06-19-2023

    Signed by Governor

S 0498:

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

Read the full text for S 0498 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Pamela J. Lauria
Actions:
  • 03-07-2023

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 05-26-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/31/2023)

  • 05-31-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

S 0540:

Provides for an annual appropriation for the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.

Read the full text for S 540 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Robert Britto
  • Senator Jonathon Acosta
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator David P. Tikoian
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Dawn Euer
  • Senator Meghan E. Kallman
  • Senator Pamela J. Lauria
  • Senator Samuel W. Bell
Actions:
  • 03-07-2023

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

  • 05-12-2023
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/16/2023)

  • 05-16-2023

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

S 0541:

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 S 0541 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Valarie J. Lawson
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Pamela J. Lauria
Actions:
  • 03-07-2023

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

S 0938:

Senate Resolution proclaiming April 23-29, 2023, to be "National Library Week" in the State of Rhode Island

Read the full text for S 0938 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Frank S. Lombardi
  • Senator V. Susan Sosnowski
  • Senator Walter S. Felag, Jr.
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Frank Lombardo III
  • Senator Victoria Gu
  • Senator Jessica de la Cruz
  • Senator Elaine J. Morgan
Actions:
  • 04-25-2023

    Recommended for Immediate Consideration

  • 04-25-2023

    Senate read and passed

2022

H 7083:

Establishes the twelve (12) member broadband council to create a plan to increase the use of broadband service in the state. A broadband administrator is to be designated in RI Commerce Corporation to access federal funds and coordinate with the council.

Read the full text for H 7083 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Deborah Ruggerio
  • Representative Marvin L. Abney
  • Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy
  • Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr.
  • Representative Lauren H. Carson
  • Representative Terri Cortvriend
  • Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
  • Representative Michelle E. McGaw
  • Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
  • Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
Actions:
  • 01-12-2022

    Introduced, referred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

  • 02-04-2022
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/09/2022)

  • 02-09-2022

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 7113:

Creates electronic book licenses for all public, private, academic and educational libraries allowing libraries to provide access to electronic books with violation deemed unfair/deceptive trade practice.

Read the full text for H 7113 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Lauren H. Carson
  • Representative Justine A. Caldwell
  • Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
  • Representative Susan R. Donovan
  • Representative Terri Cortvriend
  • Representative Michelle E. McGaw
  • Representative Deborah Ruggerio
  • Representative Gregg Amore
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
Actions:
  • 01-20-2022

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

  • 01-28-2022
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/01/2022)

  • 02-01-2022

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

See S 2842
H 7123:

Makes appropriations for the support of the State for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.

Read the full text for H 7123 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Marvin L. Abney
Actions:
  • 01-20-2022

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

  • 06-07-2022

    Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2022)

  • 06-09-2022

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  • 06-09-2022
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/16/2022)

  • 06-10-2022
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/17/2022)

  • 06-10-2022
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (06/18/2022)

  • 06-17-2022

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/21/2022)

  • 06-21-2022

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence

  • 06-21-2022
    Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar (06/22/2022)

  • 06-23-2022

    Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

  • 06-24-2022

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 06-27-2022

    Signed by Governor

See Sub A:

Fully funds state aid to libraries at 25%

Read the full text for Sub A at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
See S 2307