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5/16/2022 MEDIA ADVISORY: House Finance Committee to vote on cannabis legalization bill on Wednesday; meets Tuesday and Thursday to hear legislation
STATE HOUSE – The House Finance Committee will be meeting on Wednesday to consider legislation legalizing adult recreational use and sale of cannabis.  The committee will also meet on Tuesday and Thursday this week to hear a variety of legislation.

On Tuesday, May 17 at the RISE of the House (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will be meeting to hear testimony on several bills.
Among the legislation being heard are the following bills:
  • 2022-H 7237, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston), increases the income limits for disabled individuals to 180 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for medical assistance coverage.
  • 2022-H 7440, sponsored by Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket), adds one new income tax bracket for purposes of state income taxation.
  • 2022-H 8091, sponsored by Rep. Leonela Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), provides local education agencies hiring site-based specialists for reading and math to receive state reimbursement based on enrollment and specific guidelines.
  • 2022-H 8095, sponsored by Rep. Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston), authorizes members of an individual's family and legally responsible adults to receive payment for delivering home and community based services to developmentally disabled adults and children with special needs.
On Wednesday, May 18 at the RISE of the House (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will consider legislation (2022-H 7593) sponsored by Rep. Scott A. Slater which would establish the Cannabis Control Commission and legalize recreational marijuana possession and use.
The committee will also hear testimony on the following budget amendments from the governor:
On Thursday, May 19 at the RISE of the House (approximately 5 p.m.) in Room 35 of the State House, the committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:
  • 2022-H 7631, sponsored by House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence), requires every individual or group health insurance contract effective on or after January 1, 2023, to provide coverage to the insured and the insured's spouse and dependents for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and other products.
  • 2022-H 7179, sponsored by Rep. David J. Place (R-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester), provides medical assistance coverage for medical services provided to qualifying eligible recipients for community-based care.
  • 2022-H 7181, sponsored by Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to utilize current Medicaid waiver funds to provide coverage for supporting housing for the homeless.
  • 2022-H 7442, sponsored by Rep. Liana Cassar (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence), provides for abortion coverage in the Medicaid program and repeals the abortion coverage exclusion for state employee insurance plans.
Individuals may testify in person before the committee at the State House. Sign-up sheets are available in/outside the hearing room.

Written testimony is strongly encouraged and may be submitted via HouseFinance@rilegislature.gov.  Testimony will be posted on the General Assembly website: http://www.rilegislature.gov/Special/comdoc/Pages/HFIN.aspx.

The meetings will be televised live on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox on Channels 15 and 61, on i3Broadband on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers.

They will also be live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.



For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124