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The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation addressing clergy sexual abuse following the Attorney General's recent report on abuse within the Catholic Church. The bills aim to strengthen accountability measures and protections for abuse survivors through enhanced reporting and legal mechanisms.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives approved legislation to protect pets in domestic violence situations. The bill addresses concerns that abusers use pets as leverage against victims and provides legal mechanisms to include animals in protective orders and custody arrangements during abuse cases.
The Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation allowing certified nurses to perform critical foot care at home, addressing a statutory gap that prevented homebound patients from receiving treatment. The modified legislation includes specific training requirements, license renewal standards, and fees, and now awaits Gov. Dan McKee's signature.
The U.S. District Court for Rhode Island issued a general order on April 13 permitting out-of-state attorneys to represent detainees filing habeas corpus petitions pro bono for one year. The order responds to a 232% surge in such petitions in 2026, with immigration-related cases comprising 32% of all civil filings. Attorneys must be in good standing with at least one federal or state bar to qualify under the temporary rule.
Rep. Edith Ajello and Sen. Meghan Kallman introduced the Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act, legislation allowing terminally ill adults to request physician-prescribed medication to end their lives. The bill includes strict safeguards: two documented requests 15 days apart, verification of mental capacity, and full disclosure of treatment alternatives. Thirteen states and DC have similar laws. The bill honors former Senate Minority Leader Lila Sapinsley, who championed the cause before her 2014 death.
A Rhode Island senator explained a proposal for reciprocal concealed carry legislation in a video discussion. The proposal relates to ongoing gun policy debates at the statehouse. Limited details available from video summary, but represents active legislative discussion on firearms regulation in Rhode Island.
Senators Whitehouse and Reed and Representatives Magaziner and Amo announced Rhode Island will receive $26.2 million in federal HUD funding for community development, housing, homelessness resources, and infrastructure. The allocation includes $16.5 million in Community Development Block Grants, $5.6 million for HOME Investment Partnerships, and $1.5 million for Emergency Solutions Grants. Senator Reed, who serves on the Senate THUD Appropriations Subcommittee, helped secure the funds in the FY2026 appropriations law.
Governor Dan McKee announced Wednesday he will seek to reverse last year's 2-cent gas tax hike in his upcoming budget proposal, aiming to return $9.5 million to Rhode Islanders. The governor did not sign last year's budget after the General Assembly added the gas tax increase to fund RIPTA. McKee assured that the cut would not impact road repairs or bridge maintenance as the state retires related debt.
Republican Rep. Brian Newberry introduced the Business Climate Reform Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Speaker Shekarchi and Minority Leader Chippendale that aims to significantly overhaul Rhode Island's corporate, trust, and estate laws. The legislation seeks to make Rhode Island competitive with Delaware and other states for business incorporation, potentially generating new state revenue streams. Changes include allowing anonymous LLCs, creating a Delaware-style Court of Chancery, and adopting protected-series LLC structures.
The Rhode Island Senate voted 34-3 on April 7 to pass legislation making attempts to disarm peace officers—including Brown and RISD police—a felony offense rather than a misdemeanor. Sponsored by Sen. Louis DiPalma at the request of Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy, the bill was prompted by a 2023 incident in which someone attempted to remove an officer's weapon. Senators Acosta and Mack opposed the measure, citing concerns about disproportionate impact on communities of color. The bill now moves to the House.
The Rhode Island House approved legislation by Rep. Lauren Carson mandating that all school food service contracts include composting or recycling provisions for organic waste. The bill also requires schools to publicly report waste audit results and establishes formal frameworks for cafeteria share tables. Carson cited the state landfill's 2045 capacity deadline and noted that Rhode Island schools waste 5 million pounds of food annually. The companion Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Bridget Valverde is scheduled for committee hearing Wednesday.
