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View all Recent Press Releases
   
09/22/2023
Rep. Tanzi honored for her advocacy for mental health
Local mental and behavioral health advocates and leaders gathered recently to honor Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi for her passionate and determined advocacy for support for mental and behavioral health resources for Rhode Islanders.

  
09/08/2023
Cumberland, Warwick families gather for signing of law requiring sepsis protocols at hospitals
The families of two Cumberland girls and a Warwick girl who died of sepsis gathered in Gov. Dan McKee’s office Thursday afternoon as he ceremonially signed legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson (D-Dist. 19, Cumberland, Lincoln) and Rep. Anthony J. DeSimone (D-Dist. 5, Providence) that requires hospitals to adopt sepsis protocols.

  
08/24/2023
Speaker Shekarchi, President Ruggerio, Governor McKee, DHS announce CCAP for Child Care Staff Pilot
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, Governor Dan McKee and Department of Human Services Director Kimberly Merolla-Brito announced the launch of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for Child Care Staff pilot, which was approved in the FY 24 Budget, and expands income eligibility for qualifying providers needing affordable child care. 


  
08/17/2023
Speaker Shekarchi, Senate President Ruggerio, Governor McKee appoint Cannabis Advisory Board members
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and Governor Dan McKee today announced their appointments to the Cannabis Advisory Board. Per state statute, the Cannabis Advisory Board will work in collaboration with the Cannabis Control Commission to advise and issue recommendations on the use, commerce, regulation and effects of adult-use and medical cannabis within the state.

  
08/16/2023
Rhode Island Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy to Lead NCSL
House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) was elected to become the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the annual Legislative Summit in Indianapolis. He is the first member of the Rhode Island General Assembly to serve as president of the organization.

  
07/05/2023
Legislation to spur housing development signed into law
Five bills from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi's housing package were ceremonially signed into law today at the site of a former public school in Warwick that is being converted into housing.


  
06/27/2023
Bill clarifying public shoreline access now law
Visiting the Ocean State’s 400 miles of shoreline this summer just got a little more relaxing.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Sen. Mark P. McKenney to more clearly delineate the public area of the shore has been signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee.


  
06/26/2023
Speaker Shekarchi’s housing package enacted
Thirteen bills from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s package of legislation to help address Rhode Island’s housing crisis have now been enacted into law.




  
06/26/2023
President Ruggerio and Rep. O’Brien’s legislation to address lead pipes now law
Legislation (2023-S 0002B, 2023-H 5007A) sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and Rep. William W. O’Brien to address lead pipes in Rhode Island’s water supply system has been signed into law.


  
06/26/2023
Rep. Bennett/Sen. Miller bill banning foam enacted
A bill sponsored by Rep. David A. Bennett and Sen. Joshua Miller to ban restaurants from using polystyrene foam, commonly called Styrofoam, for food packaging or preparation has been signed by the governor.



  
06/23/2023
New law will phase out mercury-containing fluorescent bulbs
A new law sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and Rep. Arthur Handy will phase out the sale of fluorescent lightbulbs.


  
06/23/2023
New law will require no-cost EpiPen coverage
A new law sponsored by Sen. Pamela J. Lauria and Rep. Michelle McGaw will require health insurers in Rhode Island to cover the full cost of life-saving epinephrine injectors, commonly known by the brand name EpiPen.


  
06/22/2023
Affordable Care Act consumer protections enacted in state law
Legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller and Rep. June S. Speakman to enact many of the consumer-protection elements of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) — commonly called “Obamacare” — into state law has been signed.


  
06/19/2023
Bill establishing Juneteenth as state holiday becomes law
Rhode Island will join the federal government next year in recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday under legislation sponsored by Rep. Brianna E. Henries and Sen. Tiara Mack and signed into law today.


  
06/16/2023
2024 state budget signed into law
The General Assembly has approved and the governor has signed into law a $14 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year that commits funding toward addressing the housing crisis, supports business development and makes education funding more equitable while limiting the use of one-time revenue to one-time expenditures.


  
06/15/2023
Bill clarifying public shoreline access clears Assembly
The General Assembly has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Sen. Mark P. McKenney to establish that the public area of the shoreline is 10 feet landward of the recognizable high tide line.


  
05/18/2023
Equality in Abortion Coverage Act enacted
Following a 24-12 vote in the Senate today that granted approval by the General Assembly, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act has been signed into law. Sponsored by Sen. Bridget Valverde and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian, the EACA will provide insurance coverage for abortion care to individuals on Medicaid as well as state employees.