Legislative Updates
2024
Requires every public school in Rhode Island to have a school library or library media center in a permanent and dedicated space available to students in grades K-12 with a librarian available.
- Senator Tiara T. Mack
- Senator Sandra Cano
- 03-01-2024
Introduced, referred to Senate Education
- 04-10-2024
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2024, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.
- Senator John P. Burke
- Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
- Senator Mark P. McKenney
- Senator David P. Tikoian
- Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
- 03-01-2024
Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
Modernizes all state library laws by eliminating the clearinghouse advisory committee, updating how the clearinghouse publishes its list of publications, reducing the number of physical copies and facilitating digital publication.
- Senator Mark P. McKenney
- 03-08-2024
Introduced, referred to Senate Education
- 04-10-2024
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 05-14-2024
Committee recommends passage
- 05-21-2024
Senate read and passed
- 05-23-2024
Referred to House State Government & Elections
- 05-30-2024
Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- 06-04-2024
House passed in concurrence
- 06-12-2024
Transmitted to Governor
- 06-17-2024
Signed by Governor
Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 7-13, 2024 to be "National Library Week" in the State of Rhode Island.
- Senator Mark P. McKenney
- Senator Valarie J. Lawson
- Senator Hanna M. Gallo
- Senator Louis P. DiPalma
- Senator Victoria Gu
- Senator Frank S. Lombardi
- Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis
- Senator Linda L. Ujifusa
- Senator Jacob "Jake" Bissaillon
- Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
- 04-09-2024
Recommended for Immediate Consideration
- 04-09-2024
Senate read and passed
2023
Requires that the state’s share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2023, utilizing funds from the general fund or the American Rescue Plan Act.
- Representative David Morales
- Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski
- Representative Camille F.J Vella-Wilkinson
- Representative Lauren H. Carson
- Representative June Speakman
- Representative Michael W. Chippendale
- Representative Brandon C. Potter
- Representative Teresa Ann Tanzi
- Representative Leonela Felix
- 11-02-2023
Introduced, referred to House Finance
- 04-19-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Requires publishers to provide electronic book licenses to libraries and schools on reasonable terms, when a publishers offers to license electronic books and digital audiobooks to the public in Rhode Island.
- Representative Lauren Carson
- Representative Terri Cortvriend
- Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
- Representative Justine A. Caldwell
- Representative June Speakman
- Representative David Morales
- Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty
- 01-18-2023
Introduced, referred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology
- 03-02-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Requires Internet service providers to follow net neutrality requirements serving consumers/state as well as awarding of state contracts with violations resulting in penalty provisions for deceptive trade practice.
- Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
- Representative Rebecca M. Kislak
- Representative David Morales
- 02-08-2023
Introduced, referred to House Innovation, Internet, & Technology
- 03-02-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Includes all books, periodicals and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society to be placed under of the care of the state librarian.
- Representative Leonela Felix
- Representative David Morales
- Representative Marvin L. Abney
- Representative Raymond A. Hull
- Representative Brianna E. Henries
- Representative Cherie L. Cruz
- Representative Jose F. Batista
- Representative Enrique George Sanchez
- Representative Karen Alzate
- 02-15-2023
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections
- 03-10-2023
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- 04-05-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 06-12-2023
Committee recommends passage
- 06-13-2023
House read and passed
- 06-14-2023
Senate passed in concurrence
- 06-15-2023
Transmitted to Governor
- 06-20-2023
Signed by Governor
Repeals the requirement that the school committee policy manual be kept in the school library, public library and administrative building and require that the manual be available on the school district website.
- Representative Jacquelyn M. Baginski
- Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
- 02-17-2023
Introduced, referred to House Education
- 03-10-2023
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- 03-15-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Establishes, as an affirmative defense to the crimes of circulating obscene publications or shows and selling or exhibiting obscene publications to minors, the person’s employment status as an employee of a school, museum, or library.
- Representative David Morales
- Representative Enrique George Sanchez
- Representative Brandon C. Potter
- Representative Joshua J. Giraldo
- Representative Leonela Felix
- 03-03-2023
Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
- 03-16-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Includes all books, periodicals and papers in the keeping of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society to be placed under the care of the state librarian.
- Senator Tiara T. Mack
- Senator Robert Britto
- Senator Jonathon Acosta
- Senator Linda L. Ujifusa
- Senator Victoria Gu
- Senator Pamela J. Lauria
- Senator Bridget G. Valverde
- Senator Meghan E. Kallman
- Senator Valarie J. Lawson
- Senator Alana DiMario
- 02-16-2023
Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
- 05-17-2023
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 06-06-2023
Committee recommends passage
- 06-08-2023
Senate read and passed
- 06-09-2023
Referred to House State Government & Elections
- 06-13-2023
House passed in concurrence
- 06-15-2023
Transmitted to Governor
- 06-20-2023
Signed by Governor