As the General Assembly prepares to return for the 2026 session, Capitol TV's Margie O'Brien provides a look back at the legislature’s work this past year. Watch the full special, “Legislative Recap 2025,” here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11628

Recently, Senator @ryanwpearson.bsky.social, along with other local and state leaders, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Community Learning Center located in the renovated Amaral Building in Cumberland. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11629

Today, Senate President Valarie Lawson joined One Neighborhood Builders, along with other state and local leaders, for a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the Center City Apartments affordable housing development in East Providence. More info: oneneighborhoodbuilders.org/one-neighbor...

Senators Leonidas P. Raptakis and Todd M. Patalano will be introducing two bills in January that aim to keep roadways clear and safe for motorists and pedestrians. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, Senate Housing & Municipal Government Committee Chairman Jake Bissaillon joined @ritreasury.bsky.social and other state leaders to celebrate the launch of the RI AnchorHome program. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11615 Learn more: treasury.ri.gov/press-releas...

RI Kids Count today honored Sens. @alanadimario.bsky.social and Jacob Bissaillon for their work to support children in crisis, while Senate President Valarie Lawson (represented by Majority Whip David Tikoian) was honored for her work on paid family leave. More: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

On Thursday, members of the Rhode Island Senate visited Fidelity's campus in Smithfield as part of a Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce initiative to connect legislators with some of the state’s largest employers.

This week, members of the Rhode Island Senate took part in a tour of the Rhode Island Fire Training Academy, which is undergoing an expansion. The event was hosted by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs.

House Speaker @joeshekarchi.bsky.social and @risenate.bsky.social Pres. Val Lawson spoke to insurance industry leaders at Amica's 2026 Legislative Planning Session today. They talked about issues including Rhode Island's state budget and economy, healthcare, housing, and legislative initiatives.

Today, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson joined the Office of Veterans Services, Meals on Wheels of RI, and other state and community leaders for a Veterans Café at the East Providence Senior Center. The event provided seniors with the chance to connect with community partners over a meal.

The Special Legislative Commission to Make a Comprehensive Study of RI’s Health Care Workforce Related to Educating & Retaining Primary Care Physicians & Establishing a State Medical School at URI meets at 4 p.m. Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/UR... Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa (@lindaujifusa.bsky.social) recently joined United Way in honoring the Benjamin Church Senior Center and local historian Gloria Schmidt for their outstanding contributions to the East Bay community. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

The Permanent Legislative Commission on Child Care in Rhode Island will meet today at 2:30 p.m. in the Senate Lounge on the second floor of the State House. Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/Ch... Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social Oversight Committee held a hearing on the circumstances around the failure, demolition and reconstruction of the Washington Bridge's westbound span. Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11597?s...

The Joint Committee on Legislative Services will meet today at 3 p.m. in Room 135 on the first floor of the State House. Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/ag... Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

RI’s delegation — including @weayonnoh.bsky.social — concluded its participation in the State Policy Academy by @pn3policy.bsky.social, advancing family-supporting tax policies like #EITC & #CTC. @risenate.bsky.social, Sens. DiPalma & Vargas, @tanzister.bsky.social, @rikidscount.bsky.social, RICCF

The Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight and the House Committee on Oversight will convene jointly today at 2 p.m. in Room 35 at the State House. More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease... Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/ag... Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

On Tuesday, Senate Environment & Agriculture Committee Chair Sue Sosnowski and other members of the Senate and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social took part in the Rhode Island Food Policy Council’s Farm Visit for Legislators at Tilted Barn Brewery in Exeter.

Today, Senator Robert Britto joined Foster Forward and other community members for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of new, sustainably-designed affordable housing units in Pawtucket that will support young people leaving foster care. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11586?s...

Today, Senate Housing & Municipal Government Committee Chair Jacob E. Bissaillon and House Finance Committee Chair Marvin L. Abney and were recognized with the RI Coalition for Children and Families’ (@riccf-org.bsky.social) Legislative Service Award. More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Sen. Lori Urso, Rep. Cherie L. Cruz, Gov. Dan McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos were among community leaders who recently helped prepare nearly 10,000 pounds of produce to distribute to Rhode Island families at the ELISHA Project in Pawtucket. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

MADD Rhode Island today honored Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian as its Legislator of the Year in recognition of his ongoing efforts to keep Rhode Island’s roadways safe from impaired drivers. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian joined other leaders to announce Bryant University's inclusion as one of the only New England sites to be included in the FIFA World Cup 26 Base Camp brochure. More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease... Watch: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11584?s...

The special legislative commission studying Rhode Island’s health care workforce and issues related to educating and retaining primary care physicians will meet today at 5 p.m. in Room 313 at the State House. More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease... Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv

On Friday, the Permanent Joint Legislative Commission on Child Care, co-chaired by Sen. @alanadimario.bsky.social and Rep. Grace Diaz, held its biannual legislative retreat at Rhode Island College. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11569?s... More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

On Friday, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi were honored with the Legislative Leadership for Rhode Island Children Award during the Children Friend’s 23rd Annual Investing In Our Children Luncheon.

Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma and House Finance Committee Chairman Marvin L. Abney were honored as Preservation Champions by the Preservation Society of Newport County at the Rosecliff Mansion in Newport. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Last week, Senator Robert Britto co-hosted the “Light RI Red for Dyslexia” gathering at the State House in partnership with Decoding Dyslexia Rhode Island. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease... Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11568?s...

The Permanent Joint Legislative Commission on Child Care will hold its bi-annual legislative retreat Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at 9am. The commission is co-chaired by Rep. Grace Diaz and Sen. @alanadimario.bsky.social, who will preside over the event. More info: www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

You can trick-or-treat through the State House this Thursday! We're just two days away from Spooky State House! Join us for crafts, candy, and costumes at the State House on Thursday, October 23, from 5:30 - 7 p.m. More info at: www.facebook.com/share/p/16hM...

Today, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi joined @ritreasury.bsky.social and other leaders at Narragansett Brewery to announce the official launch of the RISavers retirement savings program. Learn more: www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, Senate Housing & Municipal Government Committee Chairman Jake Bissaillon took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Walker Lofts residential development at the former Sayles Company Dye House in Lincoln. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11562?s...

Last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Lou DiPalma took part in LeadingAge RI’s Annual Policy Conference alongside @rihouseofreps.bsky.social Speaker Joe Shekarchi. Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11561?s...

Today, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi joined representatives of the 195 District and numerous dignitaries to mark the completion of the 150 Richmond building with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

This morning, Senate Housing & Municipal Government Committee Chair Jake Bissaillon took part in the HousingWorks RI 2025 Housing Fact Book release. Watch the event here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11560?s...

On Thursday, Senate President Valarie Lawson helped welcome filmmaker Ken Burns and co-director Sarah Botstein to the State House as part of a tour promoting their upcoming PBS documentary, “The American Revolution.” Check out the Boston Globe to learn more: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/17/m...

Today, the Rhode Island Health Center Association presented its John H. Chafee Healthcare Leadership Award to Sen. @bridgetvalverde.bsky.social and Rep. Jon D. Brien for their successful passage of the Defending Affordable Prescription Drug Costs Act. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

On Wednesday, Senate President Valarie J. Lawson joined other officials at the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College for the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art cybersecurity range. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

On Tuesday, Sen. Peter A. Appollonio Jr. and Rep. Thomas E. Noret joined Gov. Dan McKee for the ceremonial signing of legislation they sponsored to require universal changing stations in new public buildings. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

The Special Legislative Commission to Make a Comprehensive Study of RI’s Healthcare Workforce Related to Educating & Retaining Primary Care Physicians & Establishing a State Medical School at URI meets today at 5 p.m. in Room 313 at the State House. Agenda: status.rilegislature.gov/documents/Ag...

On Monday, Senator Sue Sosnowski joined the RI Department of Environmental Management and other local leaders, farmers and food producers to kick off the celebration of first-ever RI Grown Week. Learn more: dem.ri.gov/ri-grown-week Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11552?s...

Today, legislation from Sen. Hanna M. Gallo and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith to address the shortage of speech-language pathologists in Rhode Island by updating the licensing for their assistants was ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, legislation from Senate Special Legislation & Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Walter S. Felag Jr. and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Samuel A. Azzinaro to protect veterans filing for disability benefits was ceremonially signed into law. More: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi met yesterday to discuss the logistics of a joint hearing of the House and Senate Oversight Committees on the Washington Bridge, which is planned for November. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, legislation introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Matthew L. LaMountain (@mattlamountain.bsky.social) that protects employees’ free speech in the workplace was ceremonially signed into law. Learn more: www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, Senate President Valarie Lawson and other members of the General Assembly, including Senators Lori Urso and @samzurier.bsky.social, took part in the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s (@acscan.bsky.social) 12th annual Rhode Island Research Breakfast.

Today, the Community Provider Network of Rhode Island awarded Senator Todd M. Patalano its Governmental Service Award during its 37th Annual Direct Support Professional Celebration. Learn more: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...

Today, Sen. @mattlamountain.bsky.social took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Presley Apartments in Warwick. A former Sheraton hotel, the Presley has 190 studio and one-bedroom rentable units priced for middle-income individuals and families. More info: rilegislature.gov/pressrelease...