Rhode Island
Highlights from the Rhode Island General Assembly: Week in Review (Mar 3–Mar 7) – Newport Buzz
Several notable pieces of legislation advanced in the Rhode Island General Assembly this week, addressing a variety of issues from public health to environmental protection.
Emergency Housing Legislation Passes House
The House of Representatives approved a bill (2025-H 5100A) introduced by Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to allow cities and towns to implement temporary emergency housing units, known as SAVE units, for people experiencing homelessness during extreme weather or disasters. The bill is now moving to the Senate.
PFAS Ban in Firefighter Gear
A bill prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or distribution of firefighter protective gear containing PFAS chemicals was approved by the House. Sponsored by Rep. June Speakman, the legislation aims for implementation by January 2027 and now heads to the Senate.
AEDs on Golf Courses
The House passed the David Casey Act (2025-H 5083A), introduced by Rep. Deborah Fellela, which would require automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) on all public and private golf courses. The measure moves next to the Senate.
Clean Nuclear Power for Public Utilities
Legislation introduced by Sen. David Tikoian and Rep. Joseph Solomon would allow public utilities to purchase clean nuclear power from out-of-state facilities. The bill aims to support renewable energy goals while maintaining competitive energy pricing.
Grief Acknowledgement in Pet Injury Cases
A new bill (2025-H 5926) introduced by Reps. Thomas Noret and Jon Brien would allow individuals to seek damages for the intentional or negligent death or injury of a pet, recognizing the emotional loss in such cases.
Healthy School Meals for All
Rep. Justine Caldwell and Sen. Lammis Vargas introduced a bill ensuring all public-school students have access to free breakfast and lunch, regardless of income, promoting both nutrition and learning readiness.
Prescription and Medicaid Cost Reduction
Sen. Linda Ujifusa and Rep. Jennifer Stewart filed bills to curb the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that contribute to rising prescription costs by eliminating “spread pricing.”
Reducing Gun Access for Hate Crime Perpetrators
Rep. Jennifer Boylan and Sen. Mark McKenney introduced legislation to prohibit individuals convicted of hate crimes from purchasing or possessing firearms, aiming to reduce gun violence.
AI Liability Standards Introduced
A bill introduced by Sen. Victoria Gu and Rep. Lauren Carson seeks to establish liability standards for damages caused by artificial intelligence, ensuring legal recourse for victims.
Addressing Mental Health in Schools
Legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray and Rep. Jenni Furtado aims to provide additional funding for mental and behavioral health support in schools to address the growing mental health crisis among students.
Rally to Protect Freedom to Read
A rally was held at the State House in support of a bill (2025-H 5726, 2025-S 0238) that would protect libraries and their patrons from political or doctrinal book bans. Advocates, including the Rhode Island Library Association, attended the event alongside lawmakers.
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The Rhode Island Blood Center is asking for donations after the fatal shooting at Brown University on Saturday.
Several donor centers have extended hours available as they respond to the emergency.
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Anyone interested can sign up for an appointment on the organization’s website.
PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Blood Center’s blood supply was low before Saturday’s mass shooting at Brown University, and it is immediately stepping up blood drives to meet the need, an official said Sunday.
“We were definitely dealing with some issues with inventory going into the incident,” Executive Director of Blood Operations Nicole Pineault said.
The supply was especially low for Type 0 positive and negative, which are often needed for mass casualty incidents, she said. Type 0 negative is considered the “universal” red blood donor, because it can be safely given to patients of any blood type.
Pineault attributed the low supply to weather, illness, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. With more people working from home, blood drives at office buildings are smaller, and young people — including college students — are not donating blood at the same rate as they did in the past, she said.
“There are a lot challenges,” she said.
But people can help by donating blood this week, Pineault said, suggesting they go to ribc.org or contact the Rhode Island Blood Center at (401) 453-8383 or (800) 283-8385.
The donor room at 405 Promenade St. in Providence is open seven days a week, Pineault said. Blood drives were already scheduled for this week at South Street Landing in Providence and at Brown Physicians, and the blood center is looking to add more blood drives in the Providence area this week, she said.
“It breaks my heart,” Pineault said of the shooting. “It’s a terrible tragedy. We run blood dives regularly on the Brown campus. Our heart goes out to all of the victims and the staff. We want to work with them to get the victims what they need.”
She said she cannot recall a similar mass shooting in Rhode Island.
“In moments of tragedy, it’s a reminder to the community how important the blood supply really is,” Pineault said. “It’s an easy way to give back, to help your neighbors, and be ready in unfortunate situations like this.”
The Rhode Island Blood Center has donor centers in Providence, Warwick, Middletown, Narragansett, and Woonsocket, and it has mobile blood drives, she noted.
On Sunday, the center’s website said “Donors urgently needed. Hours extended at some donor centers, 12/14.”
Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.
Authorities said two people were killed and eight more were injured in a mass shooting at Brown University, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island. Authorities said students were on campus for the second day of final exams.
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