Releases

Legislation sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio was signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee today, strengthening the agreement between the State of Rhode Island, IGT and Bally’s Corporation. The Marc A. Crisafulli Economic Development Act (2021-H 5223A, 2021-S 0040A) represents a $250 million economic development plan that includes securing 1,100 well-paying Rhode…

Legislation sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio to make the Rhode Island Promise free tuition program permanent was signed into law following approval by the General Assembly. The program, which had been set to expire with the high school graduating class of 2021, provides up to two years…

Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi made the following statement at this evening’s session of the House of Representatives: “Before we begin our session today, I have an announcement.  Beginning next Tuesday, June 1st, we will hold our sessions back in the House Chamber for the remainder of the year. “The State House is scheduled to re-open…

Below is a statement from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi regarding the passing of former Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Joe Solomon. He was truly a self-made man who came from humble beginnings and built several successful businesses. He developed a reputation as a tough but fair…

Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, working collaboratively with Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, the Rhode Island Department of Education and Rhode Island College, announced that a resolution has been reached regarding future programming for blind and visually impaired students. Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Ruggerio pledged that the Sherlock Center will maintain its funding for the…

The House of Representatives today approved legislation (2021-H 5224) sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to permanently enact the Rhode Island Promise program, which provides up to two years of free tuition for eligible Rhode Islanders at Community College of Rhode Island. The program is currently set to expire with the class entering CCRI…

Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick), Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence) and Governor Dan McKee announced that Fidelity Investments will create 500 new jobs at their Smithfield, Rhode Island campus over the next few quarters. The 500 new jobs will be part of a new Regional Center for Fidelity’s…

The 2021 Act on Climate, legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Lauren H. Carson to update Rhode Island’s climate-emission reduction goals and make them enforceable, was signed into law. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio and the sponsors today Governor Dan McKee, Attorney General Peter Neronha and General Treasurer Seth…

The House of Representatives today approved legislation sponsored by House Deputy Speaker Charlene M. Lima (D-Dist. 14, Cranston, Providence) to reduce procedural delays that could hold up the permitting process for development. The bill, H 5569 SUB A would enable local planning boards to establish a quorum for votes more easily, thus preventing potential delays in development…

The House of Representatives today approved two pieces of legislation from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s seven-bill housing package. “I am thrilled that my colleagues recognize the urgency of Rhode Island’s housing crisis. The legislation passed tonight is a big step forward in our housing push,” said Speaker Shekarchi. “We know that we need more housing, but…