Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

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 receives state budget proposal

The FY 2023 state budget proposal (2022-H 7123) was unveiled by Gov. Daniel McKee and introduced by House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown). The supplemental budget for FY 2022 (2022-H 7122) was also introduced by Chairman Abney. Both bills have been referred to the House Finance Committee where they will be analyzed and reviewed over the coming months.

 

§  Governor delivers State of the State address to General Assembly

Governor Daniel McKee delivered the State of the State address on Jan. 18 in the House chamber. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and members of their legislative leadership teams attended the event. Governor McKee presented key policy proposals for the upcoming legislative session to help Rhode Island recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and several aspects of his proposed FY 2023 budget.

 

§  Redistricting Commission approves new district maps
The Special Commission on Reapportionment approved new House, Senate and congressional district maps during its final meeting. Legislation enumerating the district boundaries will now be drafted and introduced in the House and Senate chambers. These bills will be assigned to committees and go through the same process as other bills.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Kennedy bill seeks to curtail fraudulent online sales
House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) has introduced legislation (2022-H 7013) to curtail the growing threat of the online sale of counterfeit and stolen goods, which has become a $509 billion criminal enterprise.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  McNamara bills address mental health challenges in education
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced two bills that focus on the unique educational challenges that the pandemic has generated.
The first (2022-H 6648) would direct that services provided by school social workers and certified school psychologists would be included as health care-related services eligible for federal Medicaid reimbursement. The second (2022-H 7062) would provide that in developing alternative-learning plans, consideration would be given to the unique difficulties and interruptions that many students are experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Commission studying CRMC takes public testimony
The special House commission studying the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), led by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown), collected public testimony on suggestions for improving the procedures or organization of the CRMC, the state’s lead agency for reviewing developments in coastal areas.
Click here to see news release.

§  Sen. Calkin sponsors bills aimed at reducing PFAS exposure

Sen. Jeanine Calkin (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) is sponsoring several bills aimed at protecting Rhode Islanders from the dangers of  per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The bills would require PFAS testing and removal in public water supplies, and prohibit PFAS from clothing, food packaging and carpeting sold or produced in Rhode Island. PFAS, which are linked to cancer and may cause adverse effects on the immune system and other tissues and organs, are found in hundreds of consumer products as well as firefighting foam and other applications.
Click here to see news release.

 

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!"        

Old News Archives