Woonsocket Radio News Room

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

 

§  Assault weapons ban introduced

Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) introduced legislation (2025-H 5436) to prohibit assault weapons including certain semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols. All five of the state’s general officers and gun safety advocates called for the passage of the ban, which Gov. Dan McKee also included in his proposed 2026 budget bill.
Click here to see news release.

§  Ujifusa, Potter sponsor bill to prohibit 'junk fees'
Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) are sponsoring legislation (2025-S 0017, 2025-H 5247) to prohibit “junk fees” by making it a deceptive trade practice to advertise, display or offer a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees or charges other than government taxes and shipping.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Euer bill would help Rhode Islanders pass on their homes without probate
    A bill (2025-S 0092) introduced by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) would allow Rhode Islanders to avoid the costly and complex process of probate when leaving their home to a loved one after their death.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Urso, Handy aim to boost Rhode Island’s main streets
    Legislation (2025-S 0174, 2025-H 5477)  introduced by Sen. Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) and Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston) would launch a pilot statewide Main Street Coordinating Program to aid the success of Rhode Island’s main streets, downtowns and city centers.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Felag, Boylan bill would waive VIN check fees for veterans and military
    Senate Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) and Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) introduced legislation (2025-H 5081, 2025-S 0075) to waive the fee for vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Morales, Kallman bill would help victims of wage theft in construction industry
    Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence) and Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) introduced legislation (2025-H 5366, 2025-S 0069) to help the victims of wage theft who work in construction receive the payments they are owed.

Click here to see Morales release.

Click here to see Kallman release.

 

  • Chairmen Craven and LaMountain introduce V.I.C.T.I.M. Act

House Judiciary Chairman Robert E. Craven (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) joined advocates at the State House on Wednesday to introduce the Victims of Crime Trauma Informed Mobilization (V.I.C.T.I.M.) Act (2025-H 5390, 2025-S 0258), which would establish a VICTIM Fund grant program to support nonprofit organizations providing victim services in Rhode Island.

Click here to see news release

 

§  House, Senate oversight committees hear update on Washington Bridge
The House Committee on Oversight met jointly with the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight to hear an update on the demolition and reconstruction of the westbound side of Washington Bridge from Department of Transportation Director Peter L. Alviti. The westbound span of the Washington Bridge was closed on Dec. 11, 2023, after the Department of Transportation announced the critical failure of some original bridge components.
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Legislators and Working Families Party announce ‘Working Families Agenda’
    A diverse group of legislators announced their Working Families Agenda, a list of top priorities for the 2025 legislative session.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Shekarchi, Bissaillon mark opening of ECHO Village
    Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) and Sen. Jacob E. Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence) joined other officials to mark the opening of ECHO Village, the first pallet shelter village in Rhode Island, designed to help address the state’s homelessness crisis. The project was supported by state fiscal recovery funds, a Community Development Block Grant, and funding from the city of Providence.
    Click here to see news release.                                              

 

A SpaceX rocket is on the way to the International Space Station with four new crewmembers. The rocket is scheduled to dock at the ISS around 11:30 PM Saturday, clearing the way for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to return to Earth. Weather permitting, Williams, Wilmore and two Russian cosmonauts will depart the space station on Wednesday.        Russian President Vladimir Putin is laying out some conditions before he'll agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. A U.S.-negotiated 30-day cessation of hostilities is on the table more than three years since Russia launched a full scale invasion of its neighbor. Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Putin said Russia supports the idea of a ceasefire but he wants Ukrainian troops in the Russian territory of Kursk to surrender.        The Senate has approved a stopgap funding bill to keep the government from shutting down. The final vote was 54 to 46, with two Democrats joining Republicans to pass the bill. The legislation will keep the government funded through September 30th.        A judge is denying temporary relief to people challenging President Trump's efforts to hold migrants at Guantanamo Bay. There are currently two lawsuits against the Trump administration which argue migrants would face irreparable harm if they're transferred to the notorious prison. Lawyers asked a judge to grant temporary injunctive relief, but the judge declined, saying they failed to provide enough evidence to back up their claims.        Another person who participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been arrested by federal immigration officials. The Department of Homeland Security announced Friday that Leqaa Kordia was taken into custody for overstaying her student visa. Her arrest comes almost a week after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil.        Star receiver Cooper Kupp is reportedly signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Multiple outlets say the former Super Bowl MVP got a three-year deal worth 15-million dollars a year. Kupp was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.        New music is on the way from Morgan Wallen. The singer announced Friday that his upcoming album, "I'm The Problem," is "officially done." Wallen also shared a teaser of a new song and said to expect more news next week.       

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