Legislative Updates

2020

S 2041:

Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education and provide judicial enforcement of this provision.

Read the full text for S 2041 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Roger A. Picard
  • Senator Ana B. Quezada
  • Senator Harold Metts
  • Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
  • Senator Donna Nesselbush
Actions:
  • 01-21-2020

    Introduced, referred to Senate Education

S 2103:

Requires internet service providers to follow internet service neutrality requirements.

Read the full text for S 2103 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Louis P. DiPalma
  • Senator James Seveney
  • Senator Bridget G. Valverde
  • Senator William Conley Jr.
  • Senator Dawn Euer
Actions:
  • 01-22-2020

    Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce

  • 02-10-2020
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/11/2020).

  • 02-11-2020

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study.

  • 03-06-2020
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (03/10/2020)

  • 03-10-2020

    Committee recommends passage

  • 03-11-2020
    Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar (03/17/2020)

Companion Bill: H 7553
S 2202:

Increases state's share of state aid for distressed communities, in an amount equal to OSL consortium fee.

Read the full text for S 2202 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Elizabeth Crowley
  • Senator Donna Nesselbush
  • Senator Harold Metts
  • Senator Sandra Cano
Actions:
  • 02-04-2020

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

S 2740:

Amends state aid to libraries - deletes outdated provisions, updates language to reflect current practices affecting library technology and increases from 2 years to 5 years the award of the statewide reference resource center contract.

Read the full text for S 2740 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Senator Hanna M. Gallo
  • Senator Maryellen Goodwin
  • Senator Michael McCaffrey
  • Senator Mark P. McKenney
Actions:
  • 03-04-2020

    Introduced, referred to Senate Finance

Companion Bill: H 7465

2019

H 5151:

Act making appropriations for the state for fiscal year 2020.

Read the full text for H 5151 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Marvin L. Abney
Actions:
  • 01-17-2019

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

  • 06-11-2019

    Scheduled for consideration (6/13/2019)

  • 06-13-2019
    Agenda

    Meeting postponed (6/13/2019)

  • 06-12-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (6/14/2019)

  • 06-14-2019

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  • 06-14-2019
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (6/21/2019)

  • 06-21-2019

    House passed floor amendment only

  • 06-21-2019
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (6/22/2019)

  • 06-22-2019

    House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

  • 06-25-2019

    Referred to Senate Finance

  • 06-26-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (6/27/2019)

  • 06-27-2019

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence

  • 06-27-2019
    Calendar

    Placed on Senate Calendar (6/27/2019)

  • 06-27-2019

    Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

  • 06-30-2019

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 07-05-2019

    Signed by Governor

H 5252:

Joint Resolution to submit to the voters an amendment to the RI Constitution -- Right To An Adequate Education. Joint resolution changes the language in the constitution that discusses public library service for Rhode Islanders. Companion bill: SR 42

Read the full text for H 5252 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Mary Duffy Messier
  • Representative Anastasia Williams
  • Representative Edith H. Ajello
  • Representative Michael Morin
  • Representative William W.O'Brien
Actions:
  • 01-31-2019

    Introduced, referred to House H.E.W.

  • 02-08-2019

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/13/2019)

  • 02-13-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

  • 02-12-2019

    Hearing postponed at sponsor's request

  • 04-22-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/24/2019)

  • 04-24-2019

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Companion Bill: S 0042
H 5355:

Amends definition of "public body" in Open Meetings Act to include the board of directors of any library which has funded at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its operational budget in the prior budget year with public funds.

Read the full text for H 5355 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Anastasia Williams
  • Representative Edith H. Ajello
  • Representative Joseph Almeida
Actions:
  • 02-08-2019

    Introduced, referred to House Judiciary

  • 03-08-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (3/13/2019)

  • 03-13-2019

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  • 06-14-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for consideration (6/18/2019)

  • 06-18-2019

    Committee recommends passage

  • 06-18-2019
    Calendar

    Placed on House Calendar (6/20/2019)

  • 06-20-2019

    House read and passed

  • 06-25-2019
    Calendar

    Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (6/26/2019)

  • 06-26-2019

    Senate passed in concurrence

  • 07-03-2019

    Transmitted to Governor

  • 07-08-2019

    Signed by Governor

Companion Bill: S 0327
H 5423:

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

Read the full text for H 5423 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Evan P. Shanley
  • Representative Julie A. Casimiro
  • Representative Mario Mendez
  • Representative Jean P. Barros
  • Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski
Actions:
  • 02-14-2019

    Introduced, referred to House Health, Education & Welfare

  • 03-08-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (3/13/2019)

  • 03-13-2019

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5468:

Requires public bodies to make audio and video recordings of all open meetings and submit to the office of the secretary of state within 48 hours. (Libraries that receive 25% or more of their funding from public funds - state, municipal - are public bodies.)

Read the full text for H 5468 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Blake A. Filippi
  • Representative John Lyle, Jr.
  • Representative Sherry Roberts
  • Representative George A Nardone
  • Representative David J. Place
Actions:
  • 02-14-2019

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

  • 03-11-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (3/13/2019)

  • 03-13-2019

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

H 5786:

Prohibits manufacture of weapons undetectable by metal detectors, including 3D printed guns. Companion bill to S 84

Read the full text for H 5786 at the Rhode Island General Assembly website.
Sponsor(s):
  • Representative Patricia A. Serpa
  • Representative Mia A. Ackerman
Actions:
  • 02-28-2019

    Introduced, refered to House Judiciary

  • 03-15-2019
    Agenda

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/19/2019)

  • 03-13-2019

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Companion Bill: S 0084