Senate passes legislation banning gender discrimination in health insurance market
Falling into step with the federal Affordable Care Act, the Senate has passed a bill that will ban health insurers from utilizing the discriminatory practice known as “gender rating,” or routinely charging women and men different premiums for individual insurance.
5/14/2013
Senate passes Paiva Weed resolution calling for task force on economic development through the arts
“Rhode Island’s nonprofit arts organizations have earned both national and international distinction and account for an impressive amount of economic activity, with spending in 2009 of the 1,163 arts and cultural organizations amounting to over $324 million and jobs for nearly 5,200 people.” So begins a Joint Resolution unanimously passed by the Rhode Island Senate today. The Resolution, sponsored by President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed calls for the creation of a “State of the Arts” Planning Task Force.
5/2/2013
Same-sex marriage bill becomes law
With Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee’s signature shortly after a 56-15 vote House, same-sex marriage became law in Rhode Island today, to cheers of advocates and citizens who have pursued passage of the legislation since it was first introduced in Rhode Island in 1997
4/29/2013
State House ceremony opens 2013 Gaspee Days celebration
The annual Gaspee Days State Proclamation Ceremony will be held at the State House on Thursday, May 2, the annual official recognition of a month of activities leading up to the symbolic burning of the HMS Gaspee, the event that sparked the American Revolution. Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick) will host the State House event, which will begin at 3 p.m. in the House Lounge and will include the reading of a proclamation recognizing and celebrating the 48th anniversary of the staging of Gaspee Days in Pawtuxet Village.
4/25/2013
House leaders unveil economic development package
House leaders today presented a package of 18 bills developed to improve the coordination and quality of Rhode Island’s economy and help business succeed in their efforts to grow here. The legislation aims to ensure the state’s economic development efforts are guided by a well-developed plan that will successfully be implemented, coordinate the state’s commerce-related activities into a single entity, increase accountability, and encourage business growth through incentives and the removal of barriers to businesses’ success.
4/12/2013
House Oversight issues final report on 2012 election
The House Committee on Oversight has issued its final report on the 2012 elections, listing findings and recommendations stemming from a series of hearings on problems encountered during the November balloting. While the committee reports that the vast majority of polling places reported no problems and that there was no evidence the Voter ID law or changes in the size and location of polling places caused any problems or delays, the Oversight Committee report does call for better overall election planning, more training for poll workers and the purchase of new voting machines for the state.
4/11/2013
Senate passes requirement for long-term strategic economic development vision
The Rhode Island Senate today passed a central component of the “Moving the Needle” package of economic development legislation. In a unanimous vote, the Senate passed (2013-S0712aa) to require that upon the election or re-election of the governor a long-term, strategic vision be developed for economic development. The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D – Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence).
LEGISLATIVE INFO
