Woonsocket Radio News Room

State representatives and Working Families Party announce ‘Working Families Agenda’

 

STATE HOUSE — A diverse group of legislators came together Wednesday to announce their Working Families Agenda, a list of top priorities for the 2025 legislative session. The group, which included representatives from across Rhode Island, presented a list of policies that will address the major issues affecting working people, and that lawmakers agree should be prioritized in order to protect Rhode Islanders from the chaos and cruelty coming from the White House.

“It’s well-known — no matter your party or politics — that this state is staring down a crisis: President Trump looks hell bent on cutting hundreds of million dollars or more to Rhode Island in particular,” said Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence), who spoke at the press conference. “So our Working Families agenda is about protecting families. But it’s also a call to action: for every Democrat in the Rhode Island State House, fighting Trump and Musk’s agenda starts in this building.”

The Working Families Agenda includes a set of proposals that would raise wages, ensure Rhode Islanders don’t lose their health care, protect against Medicaid and federal funding cuts, eliminate barriers to life-saving emergency medication, expand access to quality affordable child care, protect tenants from eviction and rising rents and generate more revenue to be re-invested into working peoples’ priorities by fair taxation.

During the press conference, lawmakers emphasized the importance of a state government that stands firmly on the side of working people, calling attention to the State House’s role to fight for local solutions to national crises.

“Let’s be clear — this is a time for bold leadership from every single Democrat in Rhode Island, and across the country. We’re seeing the cost of living skyrocket while wages remain stagnant. We’re watching the Trump administration dismantle critical protections like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which protects people from banks ripping them off. We know what happens when the government prioritizes the wealthy and well-connected over everyday people — we’ve seen it before, and we’re seeing it now,” said Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston), who introduced the press conference. “We deserve a Democratic Party that can be counted on to fill the breach in these moments — and we can choose to be that party. These next few years, we’re going to see what Washington can do at its worst. That’s why we need Rhode Island to be at its best.”

You can read more about how the Trump administration will impact Rhode Islanders here. Below are statements from some members of the group, along with information on the bills presented.

 

On blocking Medicaid cuts and reducing barriers for people who need life-saving emergency care:

 

“Working people earned their health care, and state lawmakers should lock arms and say: We refuse to take health care away from Rhode Islanders,” said Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett. “That means blocking the inevitable Medicaid cuts coming from Washington, and stopping any attempts to cut critical health care funding from the state budget. It also means coming together to make our health care system work better for people who need it most—and that’s what the Working Families Agenda is about.”

The Trump administration’s move to gut health care funding would have drastic effects on Rhode Islanders, including putting 81,300 people at risk of losing health coverage, forcing 68,000 Rhode Island seniors to pay more for medicine, reducing preventative care and increasing emergency room wait times. The Working Families Agenda proposes to fight these federal cuts by blocking Medicaid cuts at the state level, and remaining clear that state lawmakers refuse to take health care away from Rhode Islanders.

The agenda includes bills that make it easier for Rhode Islanders to get the emergency, life-saving care they need, and make it more difficult for insurance companies to deny or delay care.

A bill (2025-S 0054) sponsored by Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) would prohibit health insurance providers from requiring preauthorization for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services. Representative Tanzi will shortly introduce companion legislation in the House.

A second bill (2025-S 0053, 2025-H 5120) sponsored by Senator Ujifusa and Representative Potter would prohibit health insurance providers from requiring prior authorization for any admission, item, service, treatment or procedure ordered by an in-network primary care provider.

Finally, a bill (2025-S 0117) sponsored by Senator Ujifusa would help control Medicaid prescription drug costs through transparency and accountability requirements on Managed Care Organizations and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Rep. Jennifer Stewart (D-Dist. 59, Pawtucket) will shortly introduce companion legislation in the House.

 

On fair taxation and generating more revenue for Rhode Islanders:

 

“Let’s be clear — there is enough money to fund what Rhode Island families need,” said Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls). “The question isn’t whether we have the resources; it’s whether we have the courage to demand fairness. Because when the wealthiest claim they can’t afford to contribute more, while working families are struggling to afford basic necessities, we know something isn’t right.”

Revenue for Rhode Islanders, which will shortly be introduced by Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) and Representative Alzate, would create a new tax bracket only for the highest 1% annual income earners in Rhode Island, generating revenue for the state by taxing the portion of an individual's income that is above $625,000 per year. This will generate approximately $190 million per year for education, child care, transportation, and more. Research shows that fair taxation benefits small businesses and boosts job creation, and 72% of Rhode Islanders support asking the wealthiest to pay their fair share to invest in the things that make the economy strong.

Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) and Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) will also shortly introduce a bill taxing second homes.

 

On expanding access to affordable child care for every family:

 

“We can no longer leave the well-being of our children to the slim chance that Washington will provide solutions to this crisis,” said Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth). “It’s time we stand firmly on the side of our children and families, and use the power of our office to lower costs, even the playing field, and make sure every single child and family in Rhode Island gets what we all deserve: a good life, a good education, and a state that works hard to make their lives a little easier.”

The Child Care for All bill (2025-H 5321), sponsored by Rep. Cherie L. Cruz (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket), would dramatically expand the number of families who can get child care. It lowers the price tag for Rhode Island families so no one would have to pay more than 7% of their household income compared to the 23% the average family is currently paying.

The Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act (2025-H 5200) would increase access to high-quality infant and toddler early care and education, ensuring Rhode Island pays child care specialists and early educators a decent wage so they can stay in the field. Representative Donovan has introduced the bill in the House, while Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) will shortly introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

 

On protecting tenants’ rights:

 

“There are people who work double shifts just to afford their rent every month. They never miss a payment yet they have to worry about a retaliatory eviction or an extreme rent increase simply for asking for repairs, instead of fixing it, their landlord decides to throw them out of their home,” said Representative Cruz. “We can’t let that happen anymore. With close to 40% of Rhode Islanders who are tenants, we need to stop the hemorrhaging of people at risk of experiencing homelessness.  As elected officials we need to show Rhode Islanders that we are firmly on the side of working people. We can’t let corporate landlords and real estate companies continue to make our homelessness crisis worse. The Working Families Agenda helps people stay in their homes. It stops unjust evictions for tenants in good standing. And it stops letting landlords get away with these predatory, extreme rent increases.”

The Just Cause Eviction Act (2025-S 0212), which has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Tiara T. Mack (D-Dist. 6, Providence) and will shortly be introduced in the House by Representative Cruz, would dramatically reduce the number of people who are getting thrown out of their homes by landlords who choose to exploit tenants.

The Comprehensive Rent Stabilization Act (2025-H 5264) would limit rent increases to no more than 4% annually for private rental tenancies. During the first year of a tenancy, landlords cannot increase rent, and thereafter must provide written notice specifying the rent increase amount and supporting details. Representative Potter has introduced the bill in the House, while Senator Mack will shortly introduce companion legislation in the Senate.

 

On raising the minimum wage:

 

“When our lower earners do well our economy does better, but we need to reach a living wage,” said Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston), who is introducing legislation (2025-H 5029, 2025-S 0125) to raise the minimum wage. His bill would increase the state’s minimum wage from $15 to $20 over a five-year period. The legislation will keep Rhode Island’s minimum wage rising in a predictable, stable way that allows businesses to comfortably plan for the coming increases while keeping our commitment to livable wages for our constituents.

Sen. John P. Burke (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

 

On reducing the cost of utilities:

 

“One reason why RI consumers pay so much is because they’re up against what is essentially a monopoly,” said Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton). “It’s time that we explore finally injecting some real competition into our energy market via publicly owned utility alternatives. Families both need relief now, and they need long-term solutions that provide more options for meeting their energy needs.”

This bill (2025-H 5161) would launch a year-long study commission into possible public utility options—like those in Nebraska and in Ann Arbor, Michigan—that could increase competition in the energy market, provide Rhode Islanders with more options, and lower costs for hard-working families.

In addition to the representatives quoted above, the event was attended by Representatives Ajello and Stewart, Senator Ujifusa and Reps. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence), José F. Batista (D-Dist. 12, Providence), Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence), Leonela Felix (D-Dist. 61, Pawtucket), Jenni A. Furtado (D-Dist. 64, East Providence, Pawtucket), Michelle E. McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) and June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol).