Power Plant Opposed, Electronic Voter Registration Now Law: This Week at The State House
Saturday, April 09, 2016
An electronic voter registration bill was signed into law, Burrillville legislators opposed a power plant and more. This week at the State House
Electronic voter registration bill signed into law
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D-Dist. 4, Providence) and Sen. Gayle Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) to make voter registration easier for Rhode Islanders was signed into law by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo. The legislation, which the lawmakers introduced in conjunction with Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, will allow Rhode Islanders to register to vote or update their voter information online in time for the November 2016 elections.
Click here to see news release.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSenate passes bills to promote renewable energy
The Senate passed a trio of bills aimed at promoting job growth in clean energy industries in the state. The first bill, sponsored by V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham), extends the Renewable Energy Standard, currently scheduled to end in 2019, to 2035. Another bill sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) expands the successful Renewable Energy Growth Program with an additional 400 MW of renewable energy over 10 years. The third bill, sponsored by Sen. William J. Conley Jr. (D-Dist. 18, East Providence, Pawtucket), extends the successful Renewable Energy Development Fund, which provides financing for renewable energy projects, for 10 additional years, to 2027. Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) is sponsoring identical measures to the first two bills in the House.
Click here to see news release.
Sen. Walaska, Rep. Handy bill would track language skills in deaf students
Sen. William A. Walaska (D-Dist. 30, Warwick) has introduced legislation designed to better access the language-skills progress of deaf and hard-of-hearing children by tracking language developmental milestones in developmental stages toward American Sign Language (ASL) and English literacy. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House by Rep. Arthur Handy (D-Dist. 18, Cranston).
Click here to see news release.
Rep. Hearn, Sen. Goldin sponsor legislation to strengthen
Fair Pay Act Rep. Joy Hearn (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) has introduced legislation that would strengthen Rhode Island’s Fair Pay Act by providing protections against wage differentials based upon the sex of the employee. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence).
Click here to see news release.
Rep. Ackerman, Sen. Ciccone bill would nix apprenticeship program fees
Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) has introduced legislation that would repeal the $120 fee for the state apprenticeship program that is currently paid by each program sponsor and it would also repeal the $24 apprenticeship registration fee which shall be paid by each indentured apprentice. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence).
Click here to see news release.
Rep. Naughton bill would create ombudsman for developmentally disabled
Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist. 21, Warwick) has introduced legislation that would create a developmental disabilities ombudsman program to be administratively attached to the Department of Administration. The ombudsman would be selected by a committee, named by the governor, and would advocate on behalf of adults with developmental disabilities.
Click here to see news release.
Rep. Tobon bill would require the listing of all ingredients on cosmetics
Rep. Carlos E. Tobon’s (D-Dist. 58, Pawtucket) legislation that requires manufacturers to disclose all cosmetic ingredients on product labels and company websites was heard before the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. The bill would mandate that any cosmetic manufactured, distributed or offered for retail sale in the state will have to disclose on the product label, and on the manufacturer’s Internet website, the full list of ingredients in the product, including the component ingredients of fragrances, flavors and color additives.
Click here to see news release.
Sen. DiPalma, Rep. Ajello bill would nix tax on feminine hygiene products
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Newport, Little Compton, Tiverton) that eliminates the sales tax on feminine hygiene products and disposable home care medical supplies, such as one-use syringes and blood testing strips for diabetics and inhalers for asthmatics, was heard before the Senate Committee on Finance. Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Dist. 1, Providence) has sponsored identical companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Click here to see news release.
Rep. O’Brien introduces bill that terminates parental rights of rapists
Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence) has introduced legislation that would terminate all parental rights of convicted rapists when a child is born from the assault. The legislation would apply when the parent has been convicted of sexual assault upon the birthmother and a child results from the sexual assault. After a fact finding hearing by the family court establishes the paternity of the child through DNA testing, the father’s parental rights would be terminated by order of the court.
Click here to see news release.
Burrillville legislators oppose power plant
Sen. Paul W. Fogarty (D-Dist. 23, Glocester, Burrillville, North Smithfield) and Rep. Cale Keable (D-Dist. 47, Burrillville, Glocester) announced their unequivocal opposition to Invenergy’s application to construct a 1,000-megawatt, fracked gas power plant in the heart of Burrillville’s idyllic village of Pascoag. In a letter to the state’s Energy Facilities Siting Board, the Burrillville legislators stated that their opposition was the result of lengthy discussions with their constituents.
Click here to see news release.
Related Articles
- NEW: RIPTA Fare Hikes Opposed at State House Rally
- Rhode Island State House Honors National Migraine Awareness Month
- GoLocalTV: Syrian Refugee Debate Comes to RI State House
- Margie O’Brien Takes State House Slot, Chantee Lans Leaves WPRI for Boston
- NEW: Toll Opponents Up Pressure at State House
- Budget Approved, Minimum Wage Raised: This Week at the State House
- GoLocalTV: PawSox Stadium Opponents Rally at RI State House
- Minimum Wage Bill to Governors Desk, Non-liquid Alcohol Ban Passed: This Week at the State House
- GoLocalTV: Charter Schools Rally at RI State House for Public School Choice
- State Budget Passed, Charter School Bill Approved: This Week at the State House
- PawSox Stadium Opponents to Up Pressure at State House this Week
- New Senator Sworn in, Costantino Testifies: This Week at the State House
- #DSTRONG, Twin River & Pawn Shops: This Week at the State House
- GoLocalTV: Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Draws Supporters to State House
- Casino Proposal and Marijuana Legislation: This Week at The State House
- Purchase of Narcan for Cities & Cell Phones for the Deaf: This Week at the State House
- Corvese Bill Passes & Dogs Allowed in Restaurants: This Week at The State House
- Streamlined Drug Pricing & Dogs in Outdoor Eating Areas: This Week at The State House
- Black History Month & Green Jobs RI Bill: This Week at The State House
- PHOTOS: Medical Marijuana Tax Protesters at Rhode Island State House
- Good Samaritan Act, RhodeWorks & Charter Schools: This Week at The State House
- New Budget and Fantasy Sports Legislation: This Week at The State House
- RhodeWorks Legislation & Home Visiting Act: This Week at The State House
- Medical Marijuana & Sick Time Legislation: This Week at the State House
- Online Voter Registration, State Education Address: This Week at the State House
