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

 

 

§  Shekarchi introduces legislation to ease zoning for emergency shelter units
Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) introduced legislation (2025-H 5100) to enable cities and towns to allow temporary emergency housing structures for people experiencing homelessness during severe weather or other disasters.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Solomon bill would pave way for foreign-trained doctors to practice medicine
Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced legislation (2025-H 5108) that would allow internationally trained physicians to practice at health care facilities in rural and underserved communities and would provide a mentorship alternative to the residency requirement. It would also create pathways to licensure and allow them to apply for a full, unrestricted license to practice medicine.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Corvese bill would bar auto insurers from using ZIP codes to set premiums
Rep. Arthur J. Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) has introduced legislation to prohibit auto insurers from using ZIP codes as a factor in determining their customers’ rates. The legislation (2025-H 5104) would halt an inequitable practice that can be discriminatory and leads to higher insurance premiums for many of those who can least afford them.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Potter, Ujifusa bill aims to reduce prior authorization requirements

Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) and Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) have introduced legislation (2025-H 5120, 2025-S 0053) to prohibit health insurers from requiring prior authorization for treatment and services ordered by a patient’s primary care provider (PCP). The legislation is meant to help patients access the care they need in a timely manner while also decreasing a significant administrative burden on PCPs so they can focus on patient care.
Click here to see news release.

 

§  Senate confirms Turco as Life Science Hub CEO

The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Mark Turco as the first CEO of Rhode Island’s new Life Science Hub Tuesday. Turco, a 25-year industry veteran, will oversee the agency’s strategy to develop Rhode Island as a regional leader in the life science industry.

 

§  Senate committees meet to review response to homelessness

The Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government met with the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight to review the Department of Housing’s response to the state’s homelessness crisis. The panels also heard a status update on the Echo Village shelter project.

Click here to watch committee meeting.

 

§  Commission celebrates life of civil rights leader Martin Luther King

The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission held its annual celebration of the life of the great civil rights leader. The official holiday commemoration included remarks by commission members, state and religious leaders, several musical presentations, and a number of awards. Rep. Nathan W. Biah (D-Dist. 3, Providence), who chairs the MLK State Holiday Commission, served as master of ceremonies.

Click here to see news release.

 

§  Alzate and Diaz condemn President Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship

Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls) and Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) condemned President Donald Trump’s recent executive order ending birthright citizenship. Both legislators stand behind Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and his decision to pursue a lawsuit to stop the executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship in the United States.

Click here to see Alzate release

Click here to see Diaz release                                                       

The Pentagon is preparing to eliminate between 50 and 60-thousand civilian jobs over the next few months. On Tuesday, a senior defense official said the job cuts will hopefully happen via voluntary resignations and by not replacing workers who leave. The Pentagon will also begin firing probationary employees.        Russia is calling for an end to military aid to Ukraine as a "key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war." The Kremlin made the demands Tuesday after Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke with President Trump on the phone about a proposed ceasefire.        Two NASA astronauts have finally returned to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station. Suni [[ Sunny ]] Williams and Butch Wilmore had to stay far longer than planned aboard the ISS after issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They returned home in a SpaceX capsule Tuesday afternoon, splashing down off the coast of Florida.        Officials in Louisiana say an inmate has been executed using nitrogen gas. Jessie Hoffman was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m. local time Tuesday. It's the first time in state history an inmate has been executed by nitrogen gas and just the fifth time in the U.S.        Some court documents related to Prince Harry have been released after a conservative group raised questions over the British royal's immigration records. Harry currently lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children. On Tuesday, a number of documents were released by order of a federal judge after the conservative Heritage Foundation claimed he may have concealed past drug use that would have disqualified him for a U.S. visa. The allegations are reportedly based on Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," where he wrote about having tried cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.        The Dodgers and Cubs are set to wrap up their season-opening two-game series in Japan. Los Angeles will face Chicago early this morning to conclude the MLB World Tour in Tokyo. L.A. defeated Chicago 4-1 in the league's season opener on Tuesday.       

Old News Archives