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5/18/2026
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MEDIA ADVISORY: Senate Judiciary Committee to consider appointment of Superior Court justices, hear Family Court bills
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STATE HOUSE — The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet twice tomorrow to consider judicial appointments and hear testimony on legislation related to Family Court.
The committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m. in Room 313 on the third floor of the State House.
The panel will hear testimony on the appointment of Joanna M. Achille and Maria Ferro Deaton as associate justices of the Rhode Island Superior Court. The appointments require the advice and consent of the Senate.
The committee is scheduled to meet again at the rise of the Senate (about 5 p.m.) in Room 313 to hear testimony on several bills related to Family Court, including:
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2026-S 2046 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), would prohibits Family Court from detaining or committing any youth,12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.
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2026-S 2125 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence), would remove the mandatory certification for an individual 16 years or older who was found delinquent for having committed two offenses after the age of 16 which would render the person subject to an indictment if the person was an adult.
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2026-S 2137 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence), would prohibit handcuffing children 12 or under at initial police contact unless needed for public safety or if the child is using or threatening physical force against an officer.
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2026-S 2158 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) would prohibit any questioning of a juvenile who is suspected of delinquent or criminal behavior, unless the parent of guardian of the juvenile is present, or unless an attorney is present or the juvenile and their parents have waived their presence.
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2026-S 2613 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jonathon Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket), would permit the Family Court to retain jurisdiction over juveniles and allow the Family Court to order juveniles detained in the training school until the age of 21 if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child.
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2026-S 2730 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence), would prohibits a peace officer from employing threats, physical harm, deprivation, deception, coercion or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial interrogation of a juvenile.
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2026-S 2941 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence), would limit use of restraints on juveniles in transport and court proceedings to safety or escape risks, requires least restrictive methods, and mandates reporting on when and why restraints were used.
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2026-S 2982 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown), would give statewide juvenile hearing boards the authority to refer a juvenile offender to a rehabilitative driving course, as part of a disposition of an offense before the board. The order may be enforced by the traffic tribunal.
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2026-S 3217 — This bill, introduced by Sen. Samuel W. Bell (D-Dist. 5, Providence), would permit the Family Court to award possession of household pets to the plaintiff in a domestic abuse complaint, including the enforcement remedy of a restraining order or other injunctive relief.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is chaired by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston). The meeting will be broadcast live on Channel 75 for Cox customers. It will also be livestreamed at capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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