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

 

 

§  Senate unveils bills to address health care accessibility, affordability
Senator Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, along with Senate leadership announced the introduction of a nine-bill package of legislation focused on addressing health care accessibility and affordability. The legislation would remove burdensome administrative requirements that present barriers to patient care, protect patients from crushing medical debt, and otherwise improve access and lower costs.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Legislators introduce right to repair bills
Several legislators have introduced a package of bills aimed at defending Rhode Islanders’ right to repair their own belongings. Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) and Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket) have introduced the Digital Electronics Right to Repair Act (2025-H 5246, 2025-S 0060) to allow owners and independent repair shops access to manuals, parts and tools necessary to repair electronic products. The Agricultural Equipment Right to Repair Act (2025-H 5159), sponsored by Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket), would enact similar requirements for electronics-enabled farm equipment. Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) and Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) are sponsoring similar legislation (2025-H 5017) for assistive technology devices, such as wheelchairs.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Cotter, Ujifusa submit bill raising ‘circuit breaker’ tax credit 

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth Bristol) and Rep. Megan Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton) have introduced legislation (2025-S 0027, 2025-H 5194) to provide relief to some of the state’s most vulnerable households by raising the eligibility limit and the maximum credit for the “circuit breaker” tax credit, which benefits low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Click here to see news release.

 

  • LaMountain bill would protect workers’ First Amendment rights in workplace
    Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced legislation (2025-S 0126) that would protect the rights of employees in the workplace who refuse attendance at employer-sponsored meetings regarding political or religious matters, as well as refusing to listen to a political or religious speech.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • O’Brien bill would require lifeguards, park rangers to be trained in Narcan use

Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) has introduced legislation (2025-H 5273) that would require all lifeguards, park and forest rangers who work at any public beach or facility to be trained in administering opioid antagonists, such as Narcan. The bill would also require all state and municipal public beaches or facilities that employ lifeguards, park and forest rangers to keep available a minimum of four doses of opioid antagonist.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Sponsors reintroduce Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board bill

Rep. Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) and Sen. Bridget G. Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown) have reintroduced legislation (2025-H 5257, 2025-S 0118) to establish a 13-member advisory board to keep state leaders informed on current market conditions, wages, benefits and working conditions in Rhode Island’s nursing home industry. The Rhode Island Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board would help state leaders understand the challenges facing nursing home staff, and craft solutions that ensure safety for them and patients alike. The Assembly passed the legislation last year, but it was vetoed by the governor.

Click here to see Rep. Slater’s news release.
Click here to see Sen. Valverde’s news release.

 

  • Casimiro, Gu introduce bill to regulate crypto ATMs
    Legislation (2025-S 0016, 2025-H 5121) introduced by Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and Rep. Julie A. Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) aims to protect Rhode Islanders from a rapidly growing category of scams that use cryptocurrency ATMs to defraud victims.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Kallman introduces legislation to fund statewide transit with rideshare taxes
    A bill (2025-S 0092) introduced by Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) would use the proceeds of rideshare taxes to invest in street infrastructure and statewide transit development while also funding current public transportation services.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Potter, Thompson introduce legislation to reward quality at nursing homes
    Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) and Sen. Brian J. Thompson (D-Dist. 20, Woonsocket, Cumberland) have introduced legislation (2025-H 5144) to change reimbursement practices for Medicaid payments to nursing facilities to encourage investment in quality care.

Click here to see news release.

 

  • Senators tour 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline call center
    Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) hosted a tour of the call center for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in East Providence for fellow senators to highlight the importance of supporting this and other critical resources for mental and behavioral health. 
        Click here to see news release.                                              

                                     

President Trump says Elon Musk is a "leader" who "gets it done." Trump and Musk took part in a joint interview on Fox News Tuesday night, where Trump credited Musk with implementing many executive orders he has signed since taking office again. He said Musk works with his group of people at DOGE, who he referred to as "geniuses" to get things done.        The first peace talks between the U.S. and Russia about the war in Ukraine are done. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials met with a Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia Tuesday. Rubio said President Trump is the only one who can "drive the war to a conclusion." Ukrainian President Zelensky said Ukraine will not accept a peace deal that is made without his country's involvement.        A federal judge is temporarily halting the firing of eleven intelligence officers. The officers, who worked for the CIA and other intelligence agencies, had been told to resign or face immediate termination due to their temporary assignments working on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. On Tuesday, the judge ordered the officers not be fired for at least the next five days.        New York's attorney general is condemning cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program. Letitia James is calling the reported 20-percent staff cuts "reckless" and "cruel" and says it'll undermine efforts to help patients. The WTC Health Program provides medical treatment for 132-thousand first responders, survivors and others who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan when terrorists flew jets into the Twin Towers on 9/11.        Pope Francis has pneumonia in both of his lungs. The Vatican updated the condition of the 88-year-old Tuesday saying, "Laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and the Holy Father's clinical condition continue to present a complex picture."        An Indigenous man who recently had his sentence commuted by President Biden is free. Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday and returned home to North Dakota. Peltier was serving a life sentence for killing two FBI agents in 1975 during a standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.       

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