This week at the General Assembly

 

STATE HOUSE — Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any of these items visit http://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease.
 

 

§  House passes minimum wage bill
The House approved legislation (2021-H 5130A) introduced by Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) to increase Rhode Island’s minimum wage from $11.50 to $15 over a four-year period. The bill now goes to the Senate, which has approved companion legislation (2021-S 0001aa) sponsored by Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence). The House also passed a separate measure (2021-H 5851) sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) to repeal a law that allows employers to pay workers with disabilities below the minimum wage.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate passes bills to reduce plastic waste in Rhode Island
The Senate passed legislation to curtail plastic waste, including the Plastic Waste Reduction Act (2021-S 0037) introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), which would reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments. Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, Narragansett, South Kingstown) introduced companion legislation (2021-H 5358) in the House. The Senate also passed legislation (2021-S 0155) introduced by Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that would prohibit a food service establishment from providing a consumer with a single-use plastic straw, unless the consumer requests such a straw. Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) has the companion bill (2021-H 5131) in the House.
Click here to see Ruggerio release.

Click here to see McCaffrey release.

 

§  House passes legislation setting minimum nursing home staffing standards

The House of Representatives passed legislation (2021-H 5012Aaa) introduced by Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) that sets minimum staffing standards for nursing home care. The bill is meant to address an ongoing crisis in nursing home staffing that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate has passed a companion bill (2021-S 0002) introduced by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House approves legislation making R.I. Promise program permanent
The House passed legislation (2021-H 5224) sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) to permanently enact the Rhode Island Promise program, which provides up to two years of free tuition for eligible Rhode Islanders at the Community College of Rhode Island. The measure now moves to the Senate, which has approved companion legislation (2021-S 0079) introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs bill requiring insurance, Medicaid coverage of doula services
The Senate passed legislation (2021-S 0484) introduced by Sen. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence) that would make doula services eligible for reimbursement through private insurance and Medicaid programs. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where similar legislation (2021-H 5929) has been introduced by Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate approves Archambault legislation to protect vulnerable road users
The Senate passed legislation (2021-S 0318A) introduced by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston) that would provide for specific fines and sanctions to operators of motor vehicles who fail to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user, such as pedestrians and cyclists, causing injury, serious injury, or death to the vulnerable road user. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, which has passed similar legislation (2021-H 5093) introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs bill to redefine felonies, misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors
The Senate passed legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that revises the state’s definitions of felonies, misdemeanors and petty misdemeanors. The bill (2021-S 0518aa) is part of ongoing efforts to overhaul the state’s criminal justice system using a “justice reinvestment” approach, designed to identify new ways to relieve pressures on the correctional system, promote diversion and rehabilitation, and increase public safety. The measure now moves to the House for consideration, where similar legislation (2021-H 5312) has been introduced by Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee (D-Dist. 33, Narragansett, South Kingstown).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs bill that would ban gender discrimination in health insurance

The House of Representatives passed legislation (2021-H 5763) introduced by Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) that would ban health insurers from utilizing the discriminatory practice known as gender rating, or routinely charging women and men different premiums for individual insurance. The Senate has passed similar legislation (2021-S 0003) introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs Donovan bill to ban intentional release of balloons
The House passed legislation (2021-H 5376A) sponsored by Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) to protect the environment and wildlife by prohibiting the intentional, simultaneous release of 10 or more balloons into the air. The bill will now be sent to the Senate, where Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) is sponsoring companion legislation (2021-S 0038).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House Finance Committee approves bill strengthening IGT/Bally’s agreement
The House Finance Committee approved amended legislation (2021-H 5223A) sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) to strengthen the agreement between the State of Rhode Island and IGT and Twin River, now Bally’s Corporation. The bill is an economic development investment of more than $250 million to preserve and enhance Rhode Island’s third largest source of revenue. The Senate bill (2021-S 0040), sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) is also expected to be amended to match.
Click here to see news release.

-30-

 

For an electronic version of this and all press releases published by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau, please visit our Web site at www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease.

 

Follow us on social media!

Opening statements are expected Monday in former President Trump's criminal trial in New York. The six alternate jurors have been seated and the 12 jurors are already in place. The former President is accused of falsifying business records in order to cover up payments allegedly made to an adult film star just prior to the 2016 election.       New York police say the man who set himself on fire outside the Donal Trump trial drove from Florida to New York City earlier this week. The man had some papers with him that detailed conspiracy theories involving local politics. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.       President Biden is taking jabs at Donald Trump while rallying union workers in Washington, D.C. Biden delivered remarks at an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference on Friday, where he said some people, including Trump, "learned the best way to get rich is inherit it." He also said those people " learn that paying taxes is for working people, not the super wealthy."        The House is expected to vote for final passage of House Speaker Mike Johnson's foreign aid package over the weekend. The House approved a rule vote today to begin debate on individual bills to provide military aid for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. In an unusual move, Democrats voted with Republicans to advance the legislation as many conservatives voted no.        The FAA and United Airlines are investigating a video that appears to show a Colorado Rockies staff member in the cockpit during a flight. The incident happened during the team's April 10th chartered flight from Denver to Toronto. In the video posted on social media that has since been deleted, an unauthorized person appears to sit in the pilot's seat. United Airlines says at least two pilots have been removed from the job.       Horror film "Abigail" is looking to take the top spot at this weekend's box office. It's expected to make between 12-million and 15-million-dollars in its first weekend. "Abigail" is expected to just beat out last week's winner "Civil War" for first place.