Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The bill was introduced by Representative Joseph McNamara of Cranston.
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Wednesday, March 27
Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. The House of Representatives today approved legislation to ban the use, manufacture and sale of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones in Rhode Island. Proposed by Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and sponsored by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) and Rep. Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence), the bill would specifically add chemical classes of synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones to the state’s Schedule I drug list. Items on Schedule I are regulated by the Department of Health because they are considered to have a high potential for abuse and/or no accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. “Kids are using synthetic drugs and …
Friday, March 22, 2013
Senator Dawson Hodgson speaks out in favor of same-sex marriage at hearings Thursday night.
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. Both of East Greenwich's state senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W…
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sessions of the General Assembly will now be available live on this new thing called the Internet.
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Wednesday, March 20
Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. Members of the public will now be able to watch committee hearings and a live Senate session on the Internet for the first time in Rhode Island’s history. Capitol TV will be live streaming up to four committee hearings simultaneously, which will allow members of the public to see votes and hearings in real time. Those hearings, as well as the House and Senate sessions, will then be archived so they can be viewed through the Rhode Island General Assembly website on demand. Currently, Capitol TV airs a live House session and tapes the Senate session to broadcast after. Without web-streaming, the channel could only broadcast one live committee meeting at a time. “Now there will be more ways than …
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Wondering what your reps are up to? Find out here!
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Sunday, March 17
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.rilin.state.ri.us/News/ Senate unveils 'Moving the Needle' legislative package President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) and other senators unveiled a legislative package designed to improve Rhode Island’s business climate and its position on national business-friendliness surveys. The legislation was developed from the recommendations of a joint report by …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The bill, submitted by Deb Ruggiero and co-sponsored by Donna Walsh and Teresa Tanzi, tries to improve port marketing efforts.
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Thursday, February 28
Release courtesy the Legislative Press Bureau. Rhode Island’s ports are well-positioned to become greater economic engines for the state. The state’s significant coastline, well-developed transportation systems and opportune location between New York and Boston are all the right ingredients, and after a recent dredging project, the Port of Davisville is now the seventh largest auto-port and one of the fastest-growing ports in North America. The growth of Rhode Island’s ports as drivers of the state’s economy must continue, says Rep. Deborah Ruggiero, and to help promote them, she has introduced legislation to create a body to collectively market them. The Rhode Island Port Marketing Collaborative act (2013-H 5614) would bring together …
Sunday, February 24, 2013
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.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.
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Sunday, February 24
Shekarchi bill seeks to rein in EDC authority Legislation introduced by Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) would prohibit the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation from guaranteeing any loans and obligations. The bill (2013-H 5463) would not affect the EDC’s ability to make contracts or loans, but would prohibit the agency from pledging the “faith and credit of the state” for any of those loans or obligations. Click here to see news release. Bill will prohibit property owners from requiring tenants to debark pets Calling the surgical procedures inhumane and potentially dangerous to pets, Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) has introduced legislation (2013-S 0177) to …
Saturday, February 16, 2013
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.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.
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Saturday, February 16
Assembly sponsors ‘arts charrette’ to promote growth of arts sector The Senate and House of Representatives, in cooperation with Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, the Rhode Island Foundation, the R.I. State Council on the Arts, Fidelity Investments and RISD, sponsored an “arts charrette” to bring together government, business and nonprofit sectors with the arts community to develop a strategy to further the growth of the arts sector and enhance economic development in the state. President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed and Speaker of the House Gordon D. Fox were among those who addressed the gathering, which was held at Fidelity in Smithfield and attended by more than 120 interested participants. Click here to see news release. Legislation …
Monday, February 11, 2013
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.rilin.state.ri.us/News/. NOTE: Based on sessions up to Feb. 7, thanks to the blizzard.
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Monday, February 11
Marijuana legalization, regulation bill introduced Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) and Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Dist. 15, Pawtucket, North Providence) were joined by drug policy reform advocates to announce their legislation (2013-H 5274) to legalize marijuana possession in Rhode Island for adults age 21 and older, with regulations and taxes similar to those for alcohol. By regulating its sale, the state would be better able to control marijuana and would make it more difficult for children to obtain, they said. Click here to see news release. Goldin proposal would expand TDI to cover caregivers On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Sen. Gayle Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Senator Dawson Hodgson decries the Senate's "lack of urgency" when it comes to voting on same sex marriage and other bills.
One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35). "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to …
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.rilin.state.ri.us/News/.
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Monday, February 4
‘Katie’s Law’ bills introduced in both chambers Sen. David E. Bates (R-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence) and Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) have introduced legislation (2013-S 0041, 2013-H 5205) known as “Katie’s Law,” which would require collection of a DNA sample from anyone arrested for a crime of violence. The bills have been referred to their respective Judiciary committees. Currently, the state requires collection of a DNA sample only from individuals convicted of a felony. Click here to see news release. Assembly, RIEDC, RIPEC cooperate on business resource database General Assembly leaders announced this week that the legislature is working with the R.I. Public Expenditure Council and …
Govstench
9:35 am on Sunday, March 17, 2013
Steve: you missed the big one - the reversal of the ethics bill at House Judiciary. I was present and it was a shameful act. It is also interesting to note that Capital TV did not broadcast that action. When they moved onto the Master Lever testimony, the cameras were turned on. There is no transparency at that statehouse. more ›