Legislative Updates

2022

S 2842:

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 2842 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Jeanine Calkin
  • Senator Maryellen Goodwin
  • Senator Ryan W. Pearson
  • Senator Frank Lombardo III
  • Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
  • Senator Joshua Miller
Actions:
  • 04-05-2022

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

  • 04-21-2022
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/27/2022)

  • 05-13-2022
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (05/18/2022)

  • 05-18-2022

    Committee recommends passage

See H 7113
S 2864:

Senate resolution commemorating April 3-9, 2022, as "National Library Week" in the state of Rhode Island.

Read the full text for S 2864 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Dawn Euer
  • Senator Alana DiMario
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
Actions:
  • 04-07-2022

    Recommended for Immediate Consideration

  • 04-07-2022

    Senate read and passed

See H 8108
S 2868:

Requires the general assembly appropriate funds to the state librarian for the purpose of caring for, preserving and cataloguing property in the state in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.

Read the full text for S 2868 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Tiara T. Mack
  • Senator Samuel W. Bell
  • Senator Jonathon Acosta
  • Senator Ana B. Quezada
  • Senator Meghan E. Kallman
  • Senator Kendra Anderson
  • Senator Jeanine Calkin
  • Senator Cynthia Mendes
Actions:
  • 04-07-2022

    Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

  • 04-21-2022
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/27/2022)

  • 04-27-2022

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

See H 7745

2021

H 5032:

Requires that all meetings closed to the public be recorded by audio tape or other audio recording device.

Read the full text for H 5032 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Brian C. Newberry
Actions:
  • 01-15-2021

    Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

  • 02-02-2021

    Committee transferred to House State Government & Elections

  • 02-05-2021

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

  • 02-09-2021
    Agenda

    02/09/2021 Committee postponed at request of sponsor (02/10/2021)

  • 03-19-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2021)

  • 03-24-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5054:

Requires Internet service providers to follow Internet service neutrality requirements.

Read the full text for H 5054 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
  • Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
Actions:
  • 01-22-2021

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

  • 02-02-2021

    Committee transferred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

  • 02-18-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/23/2021)

  • 02-23-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5148:

Establishes the eleven (11) member broadband council to create a plan to increase the use of broadband service in the state. The council would include a library representative.

Read the full text for H 5148 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Deborah Ruggerio
  • Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski
  • Representative Katherine S. Kazarian
  • Representative Terri Cortvriend
  • Representative Lauren H. Carson
  • Representative Michelle E. McGaw
Actions:
  • 01-25-2021

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

  • 02-02-2021

    Committee transferred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

  • 02-18-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/23/2021)

  • 02-23-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 05-26-2021

    Proposed Substitute (05/27/2021)

  • 05-27-2021
    Sub A

    Proposed Substitute

  • 05-27-2021

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  • 05-28-2021

    Placed on House Calendar (06/03/2021)

  • 06-03-2021

    House passed Sub A

  • 06-04-2021

    Referred to Senate Commerce

See Sub A
Read the full text for Sub A at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
See S 0896
H 5671:

Amends various sections relating to libraries to delete outdated provisions and update language to reflect current practices affecting library technology, and would increase from two (2) years to five (5) years the award of the statewide reference resource center contract.

Read the full text for H 5671 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski
  • Representative Brandon C. Potter
  • Representative Deborah Ruggerio
Actions:
  • 02-24-2021

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

  • 03-05-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/11/2021)

  • 03-11-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-21-2021

    Scheduled for consideration (06/23/2021)

  • 06-23-2021

    Committee recommends passage

  • 06-23-2021

    Placed on House Calendar (06/25/2021)

  • 06-25-2021

    House read and passed

  • 06-28-2021

    Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/30/2021)

  • 06-30-2021

    Senate passed in concurrence

  • 07-07-2021

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 07-09-2021

    Signed by Governor

H 5752:

Requires the office of diversity, equity and opportunity (ODEO) to create and for all state and municipal employees to receive annual training in cultural competency.

Read the full text for H 5752 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
  • Representative Evan P. Shanley
  • Representative Karen Alzate
  • Representative Anastasia Williams
Actions:
  • 02-24-2021

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

  • 03-05-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/11/2021)

  • 03-11-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5891:

Amends the "open meetings act" to allow virtual meetings and participation by electronic communication until July 2023.

Read the full text for H 5891 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Alex Marszalkowski
Actions:
  • 02-24-2021

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

  • 03-05-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/10/2021)

  • 03-10-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-11-2021

    Scheduled for hearing (06/14/2021)

  • 06-11-2021

    Proposed Substitute

  • 06-14-2021

    Committee recommended Substitute A be held for further study

  • 06-19-2021

    Scheduled for consideration (06/22/2021)

  • 06-19-2021

    Proposed Substitute

  • 06-22-2021

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  • 06-23-2021

    Placed on House Calendar (06/25/2021)

  • 06-25-2021

    House passed Sub A

See Sub A
Read the full text for Sub A at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
H 5894:

Requires live streaming, over the Internet, of any open meeting of every municipal and state public body, including the executive departments.

Read the full text for H 5894 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Blake A. Filippi
  • Representative Brian C. Newberry
  • Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung
  • Representative June Speakman
  • Representative Robert D. Phillips
  • Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
  • Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
  • Representative Jason Knight
  • Representative Mia A. Ackerman
  • Representative Evan P. Shanley
Actions:
  • 02-24-2021

    Introduced, referred to House State Government & Election

  • 03-19-2021
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2021)

  • 03-24-2021

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study