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

 

 

§  McNamara announces environmental bills at press conference
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) hosted a press conference to announce a package of legislation to protect the state’s rivers. This first bill (2023-H 5087) would require the Department of Environmental Management to develop a plan for flooding on the Pawtuxet River. The second bill (2023-H 5088) would amend the definition of solid waste to include abandoned PVC pipe. The third bill (2023-H 5116) would permit the DEM director to recognize and identify public rights-of-way to shoreline and water access over land owned by a private party.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Sen. Miller, Rep. Bennett bill would use Medicaid funds to aid homeless

Sen. Josh Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) and Rep. David Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) are sponsoring legislation (2023 H-5098) that would create a pilot program testing the effectiveness of using Medicaid waiver funds to provide the chronically homeless with housing. Advocates say the program will reduce homelessness and save the state money.
Click here to see news release.

§  Tanzi introduces bill to ban smoking in casinos
Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) has introduced legislation (2023 H-5237) to include casinos in the state’s law prohibiting smoking in workplaces. Casinos are currently exempted from the 2004 Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, which workers and advocates say has a detrimental impact on casino workers.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Cotter bill would establish limits on grocery self-checkouts
Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Hopkinton, Richmond) has introduced legislation (2023-H 5161) to establish limits on self-checkout lanes at grocery stores in Rhode Island. Representative Cotter said she introduced the bill out of concern for those who work as cashiers, and also for customers, many of whom benefit from the social interactions they have in the community with people like cashiers.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Sen. Lawson, Rep. Kazarian introduce bill to help local wineries

Sen. Valarie Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence) and Rep. Katherine Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) have introduced legislation (2023 S-00392023 H-5232) that would allow wineries to sell up to three five-ounce glasses and three 750-ml bottles per customer per day on site. Currently, only breweries and distilleries can sell their product onsite. This legislation would create parity for winemakers.
Click here to see news release.

§  Potter introduces bill to promote solar, curb energy costs
Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) has introduced legislation (2023 H-5033) to promote solar energy and tackle rising energy costs by improving the state’s net metering program. The bill would alter the net metering regulations to allow some homeowners to put larger solar installations on their roofs and make other changes to the net metering system.
Click here to see news release.

§  Sanchez introduces bill to raise minimum wage for teens
Rep. Enrique Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence) has introduced legislation (2023 H-5181) that would require workers under 18 years of age to be paid at least the state’s minimum wage. Under current state law, teenagers 14 or 15 years old who work less than 24 hours per week can be paid as low as 75% of the current minimum wage. Full-time students under 19 years of age who work at nonprofit religious, educational, library or community service organizations can be paid as low as 90%.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Rep. Solomon introduces legislation to lower state sales tax to 6%
Rep. Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced legislation (2023-H 5192) that would lower the state’s sales tax to 6%. The tax has been 7% since 1990.
Click here to see news release.

 

  • Senators and representatives remind short-term rental owners to register
    Under legislation passed last year (2021-H 5505A2021-S 0501B), owners of short-term rentals are required to register their business. Statewide, about 68% of businesses have done so, according to data from airDNA. Senators Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) and Victoria Gu (D-Dist. 38, Charlestown, Westerly, South Kingstown) and Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) are urging those who haven’t registered to do so.
    Click here to see news release.
  • Speaker Shekarchi hosts author Douglas Brinkley at State House

At the invitation of Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), author Douglas Brinkley gave a lecture at the State House on his 2022 book, Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening. Brinkley is an author, history commentator for CNN, Presidential Historian for the New York Historical Society, and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair magazine.        

 

 

Arkansas is bearing the brunt of a tornado outbreak in the Midwest. There are reports of dozens of injuries and widespread damage after a tornado ripped through Little Rock, Arkansas this afternoon. Then, another tornado touched down to the west in the city of Wynne where the police chief reports "total destruction" and is asking for help from other agencies.        Former president Trump has raised over four-million-dollars since his indictment in Manhattan. On Thursday, it was announced Trump will face over 20 charges for alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Over the next 24-hours, Trump's campaign began sending out fundraising emails and also asked for donations on his Truth Social platform.        Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is firing back at Congressional Republicans regarding the indictment of former President Trump. The House Judiciary Committee has been demanding Bragg testify about the investigation that led to a grand jury indicting Trump. The Daily News got a hold of the letter sent from Bragg's office to the Republican led committee accusing the committee of not respecting the process and calls their examination of the facts improper and dangerous.        The White House is condemning Russia for detaining a U.S. reporter. Russian state news agency TASS says reporter Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal is being detained in Moscow, where he appeared in court with a state-appointed defense attorney and was ordered held in custody until May 29th. Russian authorities are accusing the 31-year-old reporter of espionage.        The first funeral is being held for one of the six victims killed in Monday's mass shooting at a Nashville school. Nine-year-old Evelyn Dieckhaus was laid to rest on Friday afternoon surrounded by family and friends. Senior pastor Clay Stauffer described Evelyn as a "beacon of light and hope, love and joy to those around her."        A juror in Gwyneth Paltrow's ski crash trial is opening up about how the jury came to the decision the actress was innocent. Samantha Imrie told ABC News the verdict had nothing to do with the fact that Paltrow is a celebrity. She said she took into account that she was an actress, but "didn't feel that she had a reason to lie under oath."