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View all Recent Press Releases
    
05/15/2025
Final bills in Speaker Shekarchi’s housing package pass House
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced that today, the House of Representatives passed the final two pieces of legislation in his 2025 package of housing legislation.  
05/13/2025
Senate OKs bill to prohibit electronic devices during school day
The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa Murray to require every school in Rhode Island to have a policy on the use of personal electronics that prohibits students from having access to them during the school day. The bill now heads to the House.


  
05/13/2025
Senate approves Valverde bill protecting 340B discount prescription program
The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Bridget Valverde to protect a critical discount pharmaceutical program that enables safety-net hospitals, clinics and other health care agencies to provide care to the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders.


  
05/12/2025
Senate OKs Bissaillon bill reviving board that brings together conservation, affordable housing interests
The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee Chairman Jacob E. Bissaillon to revive a state board that brings together leaders in land conservation, construction, and affordable housing to promote sustainable housing growth throughout Rhode Island. Although established in 1990, the Rhode Island Housing and Conservation Board was never fully staffed nor funded.

  
05/06/2025
Senate approves bill to reduce insurers’ prior authorization requirements
Legislation would free PCPs from time-consuming roadblock to patient care

The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa Murray to prohibit insurers from requiring prior authorization for medically necessary health care services and prescriptions ordered by patients’ primary care providers.


  
04/30/2025
Carson introduces bill creating flood audit program for homes and business properties
To help Rhode Islanders make their property more resilient to the effects of climate change, Rep. Lauren H. Carson is proposing a new flood audit program, similar to the state’s existing energy efficiency audit program.


  
04/29/2025
Lawson elected President of the Rhode Island Senate
The Rhode Island Senate on Tuesday elected Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) as Senate President, succeeding the late Dominick J. Ruggerio. Additionally, the Senate’s Democratic Caucus elected Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston) as its Majority Leader, a post in which he succeeds Sen. Lawson.


  
04/14/2025
Rep. McEntee introduces bottle bill
Based on recommendations from the Special Joint Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations to Protect our Environment and Natural Resources from Plastic Bottle Waste, Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee has introduced legislation (2025-H 6207) that would drastically increase recycling rates in Rhode Island, particularly with food and beverage waste.  Representative McEntee was a co-chair of the commission.


  
04/07/2025
Bill would establish guardrails on internet platforms used by kids
Senate Majority Leader Valarie J. Lawson and Rep. Megan L. Cotter have introduced legislation to require social media platforms, apps and other online services and products that are likely to be used by children to design their products to protect them.