Woonsocket Radio News Room

June 15, 2018

Legislative Press Bureau at (401) 528-1743

                       

 

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

 

 

§  House of Representatives poised to consider state budget bill

The House of Representative was slated to vote late Friday on the state’s $9.3 billion budget (2018-H 7200Aaa) for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The House’s amended budget restores proposed cuts to services for the state’s most vulnerable populations and continues the phase-out of the car tax without raising broad-based taxes. It also includes a bond question for November’s ballot asking voters to approve $250 million in construction to replace the state’s crumbling public schools, although the bill adds a requirement that communities commit to funding regular maintenance of new schools.

 

§  General Assembly OKs legislation to protect DACA Dreamers
The General Assembly passed legislation introduced by Rep. Shelby Maldonado (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls) and Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) that would continue to protect undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as minors. The legislation (2018-H 7982B, 2018-S 2678A) would continue the status quo relating to operator and chauffeur’s licenses to approved recipients under the DACA program. It would also provide that the issuance of a Rhode Island operator's license would not confer the right to vote in the state of Rhode Island. The measure now heads to the governor.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  General Assembly passes bill banning fees for credit freezes
The General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) and Rep. Mia A. Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) to prohibit consumer reporting agencies from charging consumers for a credit freeze. The legislation (2018-S 2562, 2018-H 7604), which will now be sent to the governor, eliminates an existing law that allows reporting agencies to charge up to $10 to consumers who ask for a credit freeze, which prohibits a reporting agency from giving their personal credit information to any third-party creditor.
Click here to see news release.

§  House approves Kristen’s Law
The House approved Kristen’s Law, a bill (2018-H 7715Aaa) sponsored by House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) to strengthen penalties for dealers who sell fatal drug doses, creating a new charge that can carry up to life in prison. The bill now goes to the Senate, which has passed companion legislation (2018-S 2279A) sponsored by Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick).
Click here to see news release.

§  Senate passes Goodwin bill raising penalties for DUI with kids in the vehicle
Those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a child in the vehicle will face a felony charge with stiffer penalties under legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and passed by the Senate. The bill (2018-S 2867) will now head to the House, where Rep. Robert A. Nardolillo III (R-Dist. 28, Coventry) is sponsoring similar legislation (2018-H 7223).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs bill to establish customer service standards for electric, gas utilities
The Senate passed legislation (2018-S 2332) sponsored by Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) on behalf of Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee to require gas and electric utilities serving 100,000 or more customers to provide prompt and adequate service to their ratepayers relating to new service and service upgrades, and to provide written estimates and itemized bills for service. The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) is sponsoring companion legislation (2018-H 7132).
Click here to see news release.

§  Euer bill simplifying food truck registration passes Senate
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) to create the State Mobile Food Establishment Registration Act (2018-S 2502A), to lighten the regulatory burden on operators of food, ice cream and lemonade trucks or carts. The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) is sponsoring companion legislation (2018-H 7790).

 

§  Houses passes Serpa bill to ban sale of dogs, cats not acquired from shelter
The House of Representatives gave its approval to legislation (2018-H 7477) introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick) that would ban the sale of dogs and cats at pet shops, except those that have come from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2018-S 2780) has been introduced by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs Williams’ bill to exempt natural hair braiders from licensing

Rep. Anastasia P. Williams’ (D-Dist. 9, Providence) legislation (2018-H 7565) that would exempt natural hair braiders from the state’s requirement for hairdressers and cosmeticians to be licensed with the state passed the House of Representatives.  The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2018-S 2323) has been introduced by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate Rules Committee hears resolution on Senate expulsion policy
The Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight passed a resolution (2018-S 2967) introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) that would alter the rules of the Senate regarding the expulsion of a member, elaborating on the process involved and guaranteeing due process.

                       

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Details of David Pecker's Involvement in Donald Trump's alleged hush money trial came to light in court Thursday. Pecker took the stand for his third day of testimony, and revealed conversations between himself, the former President, and Associate Michael Cohen. Pecker says he arranged to buy the story surrounding Trump's alleged affair with Playboy model Karen McDougal for $150,000, but backed out of the deal after consulting with election lawyers, believing the payment may break the law.        Students at Columbia University are filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the school. They filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Thursday, demanding an investigation into the school's actions against pro-Palestinian students. The lawsuit alleges Columbia has mistreated students utilizing their first amendment rights.        The Food and Drug Administration says remnants of the bird flu were found in one in five pasteurized milk samples. Earlier this week, the FDA found fragments of the bird flu in commercially sold milk but said it's still safe to drink, as the pasteurization process kills the virus and only leaves small traces behind. On Thursday officials revealed about 20-percent of their milk samples contained remnants of the virus.        Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is having his conviction for sex crimes in New York overturned. The New York Court of Appeals ruled Weinstein did not receive a fair trial. The court found the judge in his trial made an error allowing women to testify about alleged sexual assaults committed by Weinstein that were not part of the charges against him. Weinstein was also sentenced in Los Angeles in February of last year to 16 years in prison after he was convicted of rape and that conviction still stands.        Buying a home is now more expensive than ever. A new report from Redfin found the median home price in the United States is now over 383-thousand-dollars, a record high. The economic research lead with Redfin says prices may drop slightly in the coming months, but buyers should accept that "housing costs are likely to remain elevated for the foreseeable future." The median down payment is also up 24-percent compared to last year, at around 56-thousand-dollars.        Soulja Boy says he wants to help save TikTok. Congress passed a bill on Wednesday that requires TikTok's Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance to sell the app or else it will be banned in the United States. Soulja Boy has offered up a solution, posting "How much yall want for TikTok? I'll buy it." The rapper tagged the social media company in the post.       

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