Vol. CXXXII · No. CCLXVIIIFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026Ocean State Edition

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Governance

268 articles · page 4 of 23
GovernanceFree press

McKee signs rat poison phase-out law, second state to restrict anticoagulant rodenticides

Gov. Dan McKee signed legislation on June 19 making Rhode Island the second state in the nation to phase out the sale of certain rat poisons that harm wildlife. The law targets first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, with restrictions taking effect March 1, 2027, and full prohibition by January 1, 2029. Licensed commercial applicators and certain public health, agricultural, and municipal uses are exempt.

turnto10.comJUN 21, 2026
GovernancePaywall

RI lawmakers pass multiple bills mandating AI disclosure in mental health care

The Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation regulating the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care settings. One bill requires AI chatbots to have safety mechanisms for cases of suicidal ideation, self-harm, and harm to others. A second bill requires licensed healthcare providers to obtain patient consent before using AI and prohibits unlicensed individuals or companies from using AI in therapy settings. The bills now await Gov. McKee's action.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
providencejournal.comJUN 21, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Former Speaker Shekarchi Moves to Dismiss Ethics Complaint Over Supreme Court Bid

Former House Speaker Joe Shekarchi has filed a motion to dismiss the Rhode Island Ethics Commission complaint alleging his Rhode Island Supreme Court application violates the state's revolving door rule. The Commission voted June 2 to advance the complaint filed by former Roger Williams Law Dean Michael Yelnosky. The Commission's June 23 agenda includes a hearing on Shekarchi's motion to dismiss and an executive session on the matter. Shekarchi declined to provide a copy of the motion and referred questions to his attorney.

golocalprov.comJUN 20, 2026
GovernanceFree press

McKee signs three-year charter school moratorium, reversing longtime stance

Governor Dan McKee, a charter school advocate for nearly two decades, signed legislation on June 18 placing a three-year moratorium on new charter schools and reducing the statutory cap from 35 to 28 schools. McKee cited declining enrollment of over 10,000 students since 2021 and the need to evaluate school funding formulas as reasons for the reversal. The decision drew criticism from business groups and charter school advocates.

golocalprov.comJUN 19, 2026
GovernanceFree press

Rhode Island lawmakers pass crash data transparency bill after years of DOT secrecy

The Rhode Island General Assembly gave final approval on June 11 to legislation requiring the state Department of Transportation to make traffic crash data public. Bills sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Kislak and Sen. Meghan Kallman close a loophole RIDOT has used to deny advocates' records requests. Forty-two states and Washington DC already provide public crash data dashboards. The legislation received unanimous House approval and now heads to Governor McKee.

rhodeislandcurrent.comJUN 18, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Bristol objects to RITBA's second extension request in Mount Hope Bridge records lawsuit

Bristol town officials objected to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority's second request for more time to respond to a federal lawsuit over a Mount Hope Bridge inspection report. RITBA cited an ongoing TSA review of the "sensitive security information" designation, but Bristol countered that the agency has claimed such a review was underway since June 2025. The dispute centers on whether RITBA violated Rhode Island's public records law by refusing to release the full inspection report.

wpri.comJUN 16, 2026
GovernanceFree press

RI Senate approves $15.2B budget with millionaire's tax after Republican pushback

The Rhode Island Senate approved the fiscal 2027 state budget on June 9 with a 32-6 vote, advancing the highest state spending plan on record. The budget features a phased-in 1% annual tax increase on income over $1 million for three years. All four Senate Republicans voted against it, along with Democrats Sam Bell and Leo Raptakis, after failed attempts to strike down or weaken the millionaire's tax. The budget now heads to Governor McKee's desk.

rhodeislandcurrent.comJUN 16, 2026
JudiciaryGovernanceFree press

Special Master to Referee Washington Bridge Email Discovery Disputes

Judge Brian Stern assigned retired Judge Netti Vogel to manage document discovery disputes in the state's Washington Bridge lawsuit, including access to emails from Gov. McKee, Deputy Chief of Staff T. Joseph Almond, and RIDOT Chief of Staff John Igliozzi. Defendants Barletta, Aetna, and AECOM say the state has refused to produce key communications and records on bridge inspection and maintenance. The order cites case complexity and aggressive timeline pressures as rationale for the special master appointment.

wpri.comJUN 15, 2026
GovernanceFree press

RI General Assembly passes charter school moratorium, ICE restrictions on final session night

On the last night of the 2026 session ending June 11, the General Assembly approved a three-year moratorium on new charter schools, measures restricting ICE activities at state courts and polling places, and legislation preventing bar patrons from being drugged. The session concluded with unusual speed and agreement after major controversies had already been resolved or shelved, including the state Voting Rights Act.

rhodeislandcurrent.comJUN 15, 2026
GovernancePrimary

Governor transmits signed and unsigned bills to General Assembly June 10

Gov. McKee's office transmitted bills on June 10, some with signature and some without signature. Details of specific legislation were not provided in the brief official announcement on the governor.ri.gov press release page.

governor.ri.govJUN 15, 2026
GovernanceCommerceFree press

General Assembly passes grocery restrictive covenant ban heading to McKee's desk

Legislation prohibiting restrictive covenants that block properties from being used as grocery stores is headed to Governor McKee for signature. Sens. Melissa Murray and Brian Thompson's bill bans such covenants on retail properties where fresh food is regularly sold. Once signed, Rhode Island will join Washington state in outlawing grocery chains from using restrictive covenants. The law includes a narrow 18-month exception for recent closures with nearby replacements.

ecori.orgJUN 14, 2026
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