STATE HOUSE — Lawmakers in the Rhode Island General Assembly advanced a wide range of bills this week, targeting voting access, public safety, health care and education.
A key measure headed to the governor would allow disabled and military voters to continue using electronically transmitted ballots, extending a program that expired at the end of 2025.
In the House, lawmakers approved a proposal to allow residents to report vehicles illegally parked in accessible spaces through a mobile app, while also updating signage requirements. The bill now moves to the Senate.
The Senate passed multiple health and safety measures, including legislation requiring regular indoor air quality inspections in schools and new statewide policies for administering seizure rescue medications to students.
Lawmakers also backed bills aimed at improving public health while lowering long-term costs. One measure would streamline blood lead testing for children, while another would expand access to at-home blood pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum individuals covered by Medicaid or RIte Start.
Another Senate-approved proposal would create a financial assistance fund for families of children facing catastrophic illnesses, helping cover medical expenses not paid by insurance or government programs.
In the House, lawmakers advanced a bill to create a database of electric vehicles designed to help firefighters respond more safely to EV-related incidents.
Separately, legislation was reintroduced that would allow terminally ill patients to seek medical aid in dying under specific conditions, while protecting participating health care providers from liability.
Lawmakers are also considering a proposal to make the Hope Scholarship Program permanent at Rhode Island College, covering two years of tuition for eligible students.
Additional legislation introduced this week would require insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients and ban certain data-driven pricing practices that can lead to sudden price increases for consumers.
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