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

 

 

§  House passes Serpa bill allowing independent voters to automatically disaffiliate
The House of Representatives passed legislation (2024-H 7662) introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry) that would allow independent voters in primary elections to automatically disaffiliate. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2024-S 2894) has been introduced by Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate OKs Sosnowski bill to create Rhode Island Lake Management Program
The Senate passed legislation (2024-S 2153A) introduced by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown) that would create the Rhode Island Lake Management Program, which would create a restricted receipt account to aid with lake and pond management issues relating to the control of invasive aquatic plants. The measure now moves to the House, where similar legislation (2024-H 8093) has been introduced by House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (R-Dist. 40, Foster, Glocester, Coventry).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate approves Murray bill to prohibit declawing
The Senate approved legislation (2024-S 2007) sponsored by Sen. Melissa A. Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield) to prohibit the declawing of cats in Rhode Island unless a licensed veterinarian has determined that the procedure is medically necessary. The measure now goes to the House, where Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) is sponsoring companion legislation (2024-H 7052).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  House passes Solomon bill to regulate pet insurance industry
The House of Representatives passed the Pet Insurance Act (2024-H 7435) introduced by Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr., which would create a comprehensive legal framework within which pet insurance may be sold in Rhode Island. The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2024-S 2812) has been introduced by Sen. Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence).
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Ujifusa, Kislak introduce bills to protect independent local pharmacies
Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and Rep. Rebecca Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) have introduced a pair of bills to protect Rhode Island’s independent pharmacies as well as consumer choice for prescription drugs. One bill (2024-S 2395, 2024-H 7720) would require pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to reimburse independent pharmacies using the national average drug acquisition cost or the average wholesale acquisition cost, plus a professional dispensing fee. The other (2024-S 2605, 2024-H 8143) would limit audits imposed by PBMs on independent pharmacies to one every 12 months unless there is suspicion of fraud or malfeasance. 
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Shekarchi resolution would give $500,000 to Warwick for T.F. Green services

The House Finance Committee heard testimony on legislation (2024 H-8181) introduced by Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) that would provide an appropriation of $500,000 to the City of Warwick for the compensation of municipal services rendered at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Cano, Shallcross Smith highlight out-of-school learning funding bill

Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (D-Dist. 46, Lincoln, Pawtucket) joined the Rhode Island Afterschool Network at a press conference at the State House to bring attention to legislation they introduced that would invest in out-of-school learning programs in the state. The bill (2024-S 2864, 2024-H 8047) would allocate $4 million to support comprehensive and effective after-school, school vacation, summer learning and workforce development programs for students in grades kindergarten through 12 in Rhode Island’s schools.

Click here to see news release

 

§  Bill would protect patients from insurers’ step therapy protocols
Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and Rep. Michelle E. McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) are sponsoring legislation (2024-S 2611, 2024-H 7822) to rein in so-called step therapy protocols used by health insurers that can delay or prevent patients from getting tests, procedures and drugs ordered by their physicians. The bill prohibits insurers from requiring patients to try certain steps that have already failed for them, interfere with current therapies or prescriptions or would delay effective care.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senators tour Meals on Wheels, introduce legislation to prescribe healthy meals

A group of senators toured the headquarters of Meals on Wheels Rhode Island to see its work and how it relates to legislation (2024-S 2592) sponsored by Sen. Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) to create a Medicaid pilot program to allow medical professionals to prescribe medically tailored meals and “produce by prescription.”

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senators Cano, Gallo host 11th annual Rhode Island Education Summit

Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket) and Sen. Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) hosted the 11th annual Rhode Island Education Summit at the Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Campus. This year’s theme was “Accountability to Rhode Island Students: Measuring Success in Our Education System.”  The summit had a panel discussion featuring Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Ramona Santos Torres of Parents Leading for Educational Equity, John Papay of the Annenberg Institute, Michael DiBiase of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and a student.

 

 

President Biden and Donald Trump are set to face off in general election debates scheduled for June and September. The two will participate in a CNN debate on June 27th in Atlanta, and a second debate hosted by ABC News on September 10th. The debates were scheduled hours after Biden today challenged the former president in a video posted to X, , saying "I hear you're free on Wednesdays," a dig at Trump's court schedule in his hush money trial in New York.        Forecasters are warning of flash flooding from East Texas to Mississippi this week. The Weather Prediction Center says another six inches of additional rainfall is expected in the saturated South, where recent downpours have caused rivers to overflow their banks in Texas and Louisiana. Forecasters say the worst flood threat will be Thursday, when more heavy rain will occur north of Houston, across central Louisiana and into western Mississippi.       The Supreme Court is allowing Louisiana to move forward with a redrawn congressional district map. Last year, Louisiana's original district map was ruled to be a racial gerrymander, and it was redrawn. The updated layout includes two majority-black districts in the state.        Prosecutors in Arizona claim they've spent weeks trying to locate Rudy Giuliani to serve him with indictment. The indictment involves his alleged part in a fake elector scheme meant to overturn the 2020 election. Every other defendant -- including Arizona's Republican Party chair Kelli Ward, former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, and others -- have been served.        A protest at the University of California Irvine has police preparing to clear out demonstrators. Pro-Palestinian protesters are occupying the physical sciences lecture hall. Dozens of officers from multiple Orange County jurisdictions can be seen forming lines as they prepare to move deeper into the campus. Small skirmishes were visible on the outskirts of the encampment.        Happy Gilmore will be hitting the links again. Netflix has confirmed "Happy Gilmore 2" is happening. Adam Sandler will return as Happy in the sequel to the 1996 golf comedy. The possibility of a second "Happy Gilmore" film has been teased by Sandler and others for the past couple of months. The original movie brought in 40-million dollars at the global box office.       

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