Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

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

 

 

§  Speaker Mattiello introduces bill to eliminate car tax
House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) introduced legislation (2017-H 6267) to eliminate the excise tax on motor vehicles throughout Rhode Island. The bill offers immediate relief to all Rhode Islanders who pay the car tax, will help mitigate its regressive nature during the six-year phase-out and will boost Rhode Island’s ranking when compared to other states in terms of residents’ tax burdens.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate passes Ruggerio bill to improve transparency of I-195 Commission
The Senate unanimously passed legislation (2017-S-0850A) introduced by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) to increase the transparency of the I-195 Redevelopment Commission, the panel charged with overseeing development of the prime downtown Providence real estate made available through the relocation of the highway. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs Archambault bill to require opioid education for patients
The Senate has passed legislation (2017-S 0493A) introduced by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston) that would require health care professionals to discuss the dangers of opioid addiction before prescribing the medication. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs Sosnowski bill to ban gender rating in health insurance premiums
The Senate passed legislation (2017-S 0578) introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) that would ban health insurers from utilizing the discriminatory practice known as gender rating, or routinely charging women and men different premiums for individual insurance. The measure now heads to the House of Representatives, where similar legislation (2017-H 5109) has been introduced by Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House OKs Coughlin bill that automatically registers people to vote at DMV

The House of Representatives has passed legislation (2017-H 5702A) introduced by Rep. David A. Coughlin (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket) that would provide for the automatic voter registration of persons who apply to the Division of Motor Vehicles for a driver’s license, its renewal or personal identification document — unless they expressly decline to do so. The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration, where similar legislation (2017-S 0770) has been introduced by Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House approves ban on ‘conversion therapy’ for children
The House unanimously approved legislation (2017-H 5277A) sponsored by Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) banning “conversion therapy” on children by licensed health care or human services professionals. The discredited practice seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or eliminate or reduce a person’s attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) is sponsoring companion legislation (2017-S 0267).
Click here to see news release.

§  House OKs Maldonado bill paving the way for workers’ cooperatives
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2017-H 6155aa) introduced by Rep. Shelby Maldonado (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls) that would create a statutory vehicle for the creation and functioning of workers’ cooperatives to incentivize workers to create enterprises that are democratically controlled and operated by their own workers. The measure now heads to the Senate, where similar legislation (2017-S 0676) has been introduced by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence).

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs bill background checks for church employees, volunteers
The Senate unanimously approved legislation (2017-S 0661A) sponsored by Sen. Cynthia A. Coyne (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) to require all adults who seek employment or volunteer opportunities with routine contact with children in churches or religious organizations to submit to a national criminal background check if asked. Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren) is sponsoring companion legislation (2017-H 6059).
Click here to see news release.

§  Senate OKs bill to allow schools to make up lost days through at-home learning
Schools may have the opportunity to make up lost school days through the use of at-home learning plans under enabling legislation sponsored by Sen. Roger A. Picard (D-Dist. 20,Woonsocket, Cumberland) and unanimously approved by the Senate. The legislation (2017-S 0101) would require the Department of Education to create a policy by Dec. 1 that would allow school districts to submit plans to provide students with at-home lessons that can be used to replace a school day missed due to inclement weather or another emergency.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  House gives nod to further expansion of net metering
The House approved legislation (2017-H 5618Aaa) sponsored by Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D-Dist. 4, Providence) that could significantly increase local renewable energy generation in Rhode Island by expanding the state’s remote net metering program to allow nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, hospitals and houses of worship to participate.
Click here to see news release.

           

           

 

 

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The FBI is working with colleges to warn of antisemitic threats of violence. That comes as campus protests pop up across the country over the Israel-Hamas war. FBI Director Christopher Wray told NBC News the agency doesn't directly track university protests, but is giving schools information to deal with potential threats.       Former President Trump returns to court in New York City this morning for his criminal hush money trial. Trump faces felony charges of falsifying business records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair.       The Biden administration is making a preliminary agreement with semiconductor maker Micron, another investment through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. The President will announce the six-billion-dollar deal with the Idaho company today in Syracuse, New York. The money will go to support two chip manufacturing hubs in New York and Idaho.        Google has fired another 20 employees for their involvement in protests over its dealings with Israel. The tech giant has a cloud computing contract with the Israeli military, and pro-Palestinian workers have been staging sit-ins and other forms of protest. This brings the total number of employees fired over the matter to fifty.        A U.S. Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President Harris has been hospitalized after showing what is being described as "distressing behavior" Monday morning. The incident took place at Joint Base Andrews, with Harris not present at the time. According to CBS News, the agent was speaking incoherently, eventually physically provoking another officer.        A Beatles guitar that's been missing for over 50 years has been discovered in the attic of a British house. Julien's Auctions says the 12-string Hootenanny acoustic guitar is the same one John Lennon played on classics like "Norwegian Wood," and he can be seen playing the guitar in the movie "Help!"        

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