State House view from the southThis 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

 

 

  • Governor submits FY 2025 state budget proposal

Governor Daniel McKee submitted his FY 2025 state budget proposal to the General Assembly this week. The $13.7 billion proposal (2024-H 7225) was introduced by House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown). Both the House and Senate Finance Committees will hold public hearings on the budget proposal over the next several months. 

 

§  General Assembly hears State of the State address
Both houses of the General Assembly met in grand committee Tuesday to hear Gov. Daniel McKee’s State of the State address. Governor McKee spoke of last year’s accomplishments, including improved school attendance, a record number of jobs at Quonset, an improved fiscal outlook, and being among the best states in the nation to raise a family. He also spoke of his goal to improve RICAS scores and to raise per capita income $20,000 by 2030.
Click here to read the governor’s address.

 

§  Senate passes bill to name Amica Pavilion media room after Bill Reynolds
The Senate passed legislation (2024-S 2034) introduced by Sen. Frank S. Lombardi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston) that would name the media work room in the Amica Mutual Pavilion in honor of Bill Reynolds, the beloved Providence Journal columnist who died in July. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Evan Patrick Shanley (D-Dist. 24, Warwick, East Greenwich) has introduced similar legislation (2024-H 7221).
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Sen. Lawson, Rep. Giraldo bill would expand parental, caregiving leave

Senate Majority Whip Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and Rep. Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls) are sponsoring legislation (2024-S 2121, 2024-H 7171) to expand Rhode Island’s Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program from six weeks to 12 and expand the definition of a critically ill family member to include grandchildren, siblings and “care recipients.”
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Rep. Spears, Sen. Gu introduce coastal resiliency bill

Rep. Tina Spears (D-Dist. 36 Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) and Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) are sponsoring legislation (2024-H 7022) to create and maintain a statewide coastal resiliency plan to address the effects of rising sea levels and increased flooding along Rhode Island’s rivers and coasts.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • East Bay legislators request I-195 West bridge updates

Several legislators representing the East Bay wrote to Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti to request regular updates concerning the reconstruction and repair of the I-195 West bridge. The letter requests regular detailed updates from RIDOT on the construction and repair of the I-195 westbound bridge and updates on the expected timeline for when the bridge will be fully operational.

Click here to see news release

 

  • DiMario, Alzate join organizations for same day voter registration rally

Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) joined more than 30 community organizations from across Rhode Island at a rally in the State House in support of putting a question on the November 2024 ballot to allow Rhode Island to enact same day voter registration. Rhode Island’s current 30-day voter registration deadline is the longest in the nation.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Commission’s annual celebration held

The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission held its annual celebration of the life of the great civil rights leader. The official holiday commemoration included remarks by commission members, state and religious leaders, several musical presentations, and a number of awards were presented. Deputy Speaker Raymond A. Hull (D-Dist. 6, Providence, North Providence), who chairs the MLK State Holiday Commission that annually organizes and hosts the celebration, served as master of ceremonies.

                                   

A key report shows wholesale inflation slowed last month. The July Producer Price Index shows a rise of zero-point-one percent. The PPI measures prices that businesses receive for goods and services. Economists had been expecting a slightly higher increase, according to a survey by the Wall Street Journal.        Over one-point-three million people tuned into Elon Musk's conversation with former President Trump on X last night. Some technical issues delayed the conversation, but the pair still spoke for over two hours. They discussed the attempted assassination of Trump in Pennsylvania, immigration, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the threat of global warming, and more.        Voters are heading to the polls for primary elections in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin today. In Minnesota, progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar will defend her seat against former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. The contest comes after two other members of the so-called progressive "Squad," Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, lost their Democratic primaries this cycle.        Tropical Storm Ernesto isn't expected to hit the U.S. mainland as it heads up the Atlantic Ocean. Current forecasts show the storm will bring heavy rain and flooding to Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands today. The National Hurricane Center says Ernesto will then head northward and into the Atlantic.        A former Colorado clerk is facing up to 22 years in prison for election tampering. Tina Peters was convicted yesterday and will be sentenced in October. Prosecutors argued she let an unauthorized person access Mesa County's voting equipment in 2021 and make a copy of hard drives, as well as pictures of passwords, and then tried to cover it up.        U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles will not have her appeal heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee said it would take away her bronze medal because of a scoring error. Monday, USA Gymnastics said in a statement that it was notified that CAS rules don't allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered.        

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