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Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 25,118 Active 7,678 In committee 7,673 Passed 5,630 Signed 4,797 Failed 6,972

Bill results

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 5125: AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION

Permits the family court to award custody of household pets to the plaintiff in a domestic abuse complaint, including the enforcement remedy of a restraining order or other injunctive relief.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victim protection in domestic abuse cases by addressing pet custody, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to improve safety and reduce underreporting.85% confidence
Leo Felix (D) Jennifer Stewart (D) Raymond Hull (D) Edith Ajello (D) John Lombardi (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 22, 2025

HB 6216: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES-MAXIMUM LEVY

HB 6216 proposes to grant the town of Jamestown an exemption from the state's four percent property tax levy cap. This would allow Jamestown to increase its total property tax revenue by more than the standard four percent annually. The exemption is contingent on the town continuing to use a financial town meeting, where voters must approve any proposed levy increase that exceeds the cap. This bill directly affects the town of Jamestown's local taxation authority and its property owners.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts Jamestown from 4% tax cap with voter approval, enabling higher local tax revenue while maintaining accountability.90% confidence
Alex Finkelman (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 5966: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

Allows city of Providence to levy a tax in fiscal year 2026, in an amount not to exceed seven percent (7%) in excess of the total amount levied and certified by that city for its previous fiscal year.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly permits increased local tax levy (up to 7% higher), advancing local fiscal capacity for city operations within Budget & Taxes framework.95% confidence
David Morales (D) Jose Batista (D)
died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 639: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT

SB 639, known as "The School Libraries Act," establishes new requirements for public schools across the state. It mandates that every public school must have a permanent, dedicated school library equipped with an adequate collection, technology, and budget. The bill also requires all public schools to employ certified school librarians, with specific staffing levels (full-time for schools with 250+ students, half-time for smaller schools) to be phased in by the 2030-2031 school year. This legislation aims to ensure students in all public schools have daily access to these libraries and their resources.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates dedicated school library budgets and staffing, directing state education funding toward library resources and personnel, aligning with funding essential educational programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates permanent libraries, certified librarians, and phased funding requirements to strengthen school library resources and support educational access.95% confidence
Matt LaMountain (D) Mark McKenney (D) David Tikoian (D) Lou DiPalma (D) Hanna Gallo (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 18, 2025

HB 5368: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

HB 5368 is an act that modifies the state law governing the maximum amount of local taxes cities and towns can levy. This bill specifically allows the City of Providence to exceed the standard tax levy cap for its fiscal year 2026. Normally, municipalities are limited to a certain percentage increase in their total tax levy each year, but this legislation would create a temporary exemption for Providence. This directly affects the City of Providence's ability to raise tax revenue and its taxpayers for that fiscal year.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allows Providence to exceed standard tax levy cap, increasing local tax revenue capacity for FY2026, directly advancing municipal fiscal flexibility.95% confidence
Scott Slater (D) Edith Ajello (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 5599: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

HB 5599 establishes a Corrections Education and Vocational Planning Group (CEVPG) to develop career and educational programming within Rhode Island's state prison system. This group will consider opportunities for incarcerated individuals, including higher education pathways. The CEVPG will assess labor market needs, facility requirements, and potential funding sources to create sustainable partnerships with higher education institutions. It will also work to identify and address barriers to academic program continuity and campus access upon release, with annual reports on its progress.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes prison education/vocational programs to reduce recidivism, directly advancing rehabilitation within corrections system90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Corrections Education and Vocational Planning Group to develop higher education pathways for incarcerated individuals, expanding educational access through sustainable partnerships with institutions.95% confidence
Karen Alzate (D) Cherie Cruz (D) David Morales (D) June Speakman (D) Joshua Giraldo (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 6058: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- DUAL ENROLLMENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

HB 6058 updates the "Dual Enrollment Equal Opportunity Act" by replacing the term "postsecondary institution" with "public higher education institution" throughout the law. This clarifies that the dual enrollment program - allowing high school students to take college courses at the same time - applies directly to all Rhode Island public colleges and universities, including community colleges. The bill does not change existing policies or funding rules but ensures the law explicitly covers all public higher education institutions. It affects high school students seeking college credit and public colleges/universities offering dual enrollment courses.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies dual enrollment applies to all public higher ed institutions, expanding student access to college courses without altering funding or policy.95% confidence
Karen Alzate (D) Stephen Casey (D) Joseph Solomon (D) Scott Slater (D) Bill O'Brien (D)
died · Rhode Island · House Apr 10, 2025

HB 6034: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

HB 6034 blocks new applications for "network charter schools" (multiple schools operated under a single management structure) and prevents expansions of existing charter schools that would create such networks. The bill does not affect individual charter schools or the existing 35-school cap, but specifically halts the creation of new multi-school networks. It directly impacts organizations seeking to launch or expand networked charter systems, including potential applicants and existing charter operators considering growth. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and preserves existing charters while restricting new network formations.
Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBlocks new network charter school applications and expansions, restricting multi-school management structures in education policy without affecting individual charters or funding.90% confidence
Karen Alzate (D) Susan Donovan (D) Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith (D) Kathleen Fogarty (D) Mary Messier (D)
Showing 2,233 to 2,244 of 6,972 bills
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