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/pressrelea

 

§  Senate approves Murray bill limiting copays for diabetes supplies, equipment

The Senate approved legislation (2025-S 0196) sponsored by Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) to limit insured patients’ copays for supplies and equipment used to treat diabetes to $25 for a 30-day supply. The legislation now goes to the House, where House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) is sponsoring a companion bill (2025-H 5026).
Click here to see news release.

§  House OKs bill to protect homeowners from predatory real estate schemes

The House approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) to prohibit an unfair real estate practice that is often targeted at older homeowners, sometimes resulting in a lien against their property or other problems. The legislation (2025-H 5185A) prohibits Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services (NTRAPS) in which a real estate broker offers money to a homeowner upfront in exchange for the rights to later sell their home.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where similar legislation (2025-S 0133) has been introduced by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs Diaz bill to protect right to repair wheelchairs, other mobility aids
The House of Representatives approved legislation (2025-H 5017) introduced by Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) that would protect people’s right to repair their own wheelchairs and other mobility aids. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation has been introduced by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick).
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Senate OKs DiMario bill to remove restrictions on child care assistance
    The Senate voted to approve legislation (2025-S 0062) introduced by Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would allow more qualified Rhode Islanders to receive child care assistance by removing burdensome requirements that recipients cooperate with the Office of Child Support Services to establish paternity and enforce child support orders for children receiving child care assistance. The bill now heads to the House, where Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) has introduced companion legislation (2025-H 5197).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs Fogarty bill to criminalize false reports of shootings
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2025-H 5442) introduced by Rep. Kathleen A. Fogarty (D-Dist. 35, South Kingstown) that would expand the crime of false reporting to include shootings or other dangerous events. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Senate passes Lawson bill to make pediatric autoimmune coverage permanent
    The Senate passed a bill (2025-S 0473) sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) that would make permanent a pilot program passed in 2022 that requires insurance coverage for treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome. The bill now heads to the House, where Rep. Matthew S. Dawson (D-Dist. 65, East Providence) has introduced similar legislation (2025-H 5625).

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Sanchez bill would make eminent domain proceedings more public, transparent
    Rep. Enrique George Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence) has introduced legislation (2025-H 6112) that aims to protect affordable housing developments and other private projects that benefit Rhode Island’s communities by requiring municipalities to justify their use of eminent domain in a public, transparent process.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Boylan, Valverde want Rhode Island to lead by example on sustainability
    Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) and Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) have introduced legislation (2025-H 5343, 2025-S 0641) to move Rhode Island toward meeting its sustainability goals by empowering the state agencies of Rhode Island to lead by example.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Euer media literacy education bill heard in committee
    The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on a bill (2025-S 0638) from Sen. Dawn Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown) to improve the critical thinking skills of students by adding media literacy to the standards of civic education taught in Rhode Island schools.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  McNamara bill would codify federal 504 education plans into state law
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced legislation (2025-H 6122) that would make federally mandated school 504 plans part of state law. Named after Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a 504 plan is a formal plan for how a school will remove barriers so a student with a disability can learn alongside peers in general education. Under the proposed legislation, if the federal government should eliminate the 504 provision for equal access to education for students with disabilities, it would be preserved in Rhode Island statute.
Click here to see news release.

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief is doubling down on claims he was accidentally texted plans about airstrikes on Houthi targets. Jeffrey Goldberg says he learned about the plans in a group chat that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing sensitive information. Goldberg says Hegseth discussed the specific time of a future attack -- and human targets meant to be killed.        Whether or not the Trump administration can continue to deporting immigrants with the Alien Enemies Act will be decided by an appeals court. The White House has maintained it can use the 18th-century wartime law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. A federal judge blocked the effort, claiming the immigrants are entitled to individual hearings to determine if they are indeed gang members.        The head of the U.S. Postal Service has announced he's stepping down. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who was appointed to lead the independent government agency in 2020, put in his resignation Monday. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will be in charge until a successor can be named.        Wildfires continue to burn in Western North Carolina. The fires, known collectively as the Black Cove Complex, were zero percent contained as of Monday night. Firefighting efforts are hampered by leftover damage from Hurricane Helene last September, with debris remaining in forests and some roads.        Costa Rican officials have released an apparent cause of death in the passing of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner's teenage son. The 14-year-old was on a family vacation at a Costa Rican Pacific coast resort, when his body was found in his room on Friday. Officials say they believe Miller Gardner died in his sleep after a reaction to something he ate. The reaction caused him to asphyxiate, meaning it stopped him from breathing.        Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy is suing his ex-fiancé. The 21-year-old Worthy alleges she assaulted him, tried to extort him, and destroyed more than 150-thousand dollars in cash and property. Worthy is seeking between 250-thousand and one million dollars for damages. Worthy was arrested earlier this month in Texas for domestic assault, but no charges were filed in the case.       

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