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
§ General Assembly approves Warwick school budget commission bill
The General Assembly passed legislation (2025-H 5252A, 2025-S 0242) introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) that allows the city of Warwick to create a five-member commission to oversee the operations of Warwick Public Schools and present a preliminary analysis of the school district’s financial situation. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
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§ House passes bill protecting kids’ access to COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies
The House approved legislation (2025-H 5427A) sponsored by Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) on behalf of the Department of Health to ensure that pharmacists can continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children, regardless of any changes at the federal level. The bill adds the COVID-19 vaccine to the state law allowing pharmacists to administer the flu vaccine to children, and changes the minimum age of the children eligible to receive both vaccines at a pharmacy from age 9 to age 3. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Robert Britto (D-Dist. 18, Providence, Pawtucket) is sponsoring its companion (2025-S 0699).
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§ House OKs Phillips bill mandating 30 days between driver’s permit and license
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2025-H 5513) introduced by Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland) that would implement a 30-day waiting period following the issuance of a learner’s permit before taking a road test in order to obtain a full license for anyone over the age of 18. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2025-S 0624) has been introduced by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton, Little Compton).
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- House OKs O’Brien bill to require Narcan training for lifeguards, park rangers
The House approved Rep. William W. O’Brien’s (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) legislation (2025-H 5273A) that would require all full-time 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. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Lincoln) has introduced the legislation (2025-S 0343).
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- House passes Boylan bill to waive VIN check fees for veterans, military members
The House voted to approve a bill (2025-H 5081) from Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) to waive the fee for vehicle identification number (VIN) inspections for veterans and active-duty military personnel. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) has introduced companion legislation (2025-S 0075).
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- Urso bill would extend workplace protections to those experiencing menopause
Sen. Lori Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) has introduced legislation (2025-S 0361) to update fair employment practices to support women experiencing menopause. Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) plans to introduce companion legislation in the House.
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- Legislators introduce bills to strengthen shoreline access
Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown) and Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) have introduced a pair of bills to protect Rhode Islanders’ access to the shoreline by allowing towns to preserve recreation easements on abandoned roads (2025-S 0349, 2025-H 5960) and protecting parking near these rights of way (2025-S 0716, 2025-H 6093).
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- Bill would encourage townhomes as affordable homeownership option
Sen. Meghan E. Kallman (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, Providence) and Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol) have introduced legislation (2025-S 0504, 2025-H 5798) to encourage the development of attached single-family homes, such as townhomes, which can offer more affordable opportunities in Rhode Island’s housing market.
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- Sponsors, advocates host Multilingual Education Advocacy Day
Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) and Rep. David Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence) were joined by the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island (CMRI) for the seventh annual Multilingual Education Advocacy Day to call for the passage of legislation (2025-S 0785, 2025-H 5744 and 2025-S 0457, 2025-H 5982) to invest in multilingual education in Rhode Island.
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- 204th Greek Independence Day celebration held at State House
Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich) hosted a celebration of Greek Independence Day at the State House on March 25, bringing together federal and state leaders, mayors and members of all three Hellenic communities to recognize the 204th anniversary of Greece’s independence and the Feast of the Annunciation. Resolutions (2025-S 0880, 2025-H 6130) honoring Greek Independence Day, sponsored by Senator Raptakis and Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), passed in both the Senate and House. Legislation (2025-S 0155) sponsored by Senator Raptakis that would create a Rhode Island Greek Heritage license plate in conjunction with the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) was also approved by the Senate.