House passes all 14 bills in Speaker Shekarchi’s package of housing legislation

Earlier this year, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi introduced a 14-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. As of yesterday, all 14 bills have been passed by the House of Representatives. The legislation builds upon housing packages that Speaker Shekarchi shepherded into law each of the last two years’ sessions by continuing…

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Speaker Shekarchi applauds PFAS lawsuit

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) is applauding a lawsuit filed today by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha against manufacturers of “forever chemicals.” Attorney General Neronha filed the lawsuit against the manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, for causing significant harm to the residents and natural resources of Rhode…

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Speaker Shekarchi introduces legislation to create life science hub

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi yesterday introduced legislation to create a life science hub in Rhode Island. The legislation (2023-H 6426) would create a new quasi-public corporate body and agency of the state for the express purpose of acting as the central entity and coordinating organization of life science initiatives on behalf of the state.…

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Speaker Shekarchi’s legislation to amend Low and Moderate Housing Act passes House

Legislation sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to amend Rhode Island’s Low and Moderate Income Housing Act was passed by the House today. The legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 14-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. “Rhode Island is in dire need of more housing. The package of legislation my…

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Speaker Shekarchi recognizes clean energy achievements across public sector at 6th annual Lead By Example awards

energy awards

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate Environment & Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Alana M. DiMario joined Governor Dan McKee and Acting State Energy Commissioner Chris Kearns on Tuesday to recognize 19 state and quasi-government agencies, municipalities, and public schools for their renewable energy and energy efficiency achievements at its sixth Annual Lead by Example Clean…

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Speaker Shekarchi’s legislation to create housing court calendar passes House

Legislation sponsored by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi to create a court calendar dedicated to housing and land use was passed by the House today. The legislation is part of Speaker Shekarchi’s 14-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. “Rhode Island desperately needs more housing,” said Speaker Shekarchi. “Creating more housing isn’t…

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Speaker Shekarchi joins Rhode Island Foundation to complete awarding of $20 million in ARPA funding for housing, hunger and behavioral health

Speaker ARPA funding announcement

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi joined the Rhode Island Foundation to announce the completion of awarding $20 million in grants for hunger, housing and behavioral health to 240 nonprofits across the state. State leaders tapped the Foundation to distribute the funding from Rhode Island’s $1.1 billion share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act allocation…

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Speaker Shekarchi helps cut ribbon for Breeze Airlines’ new base of operations at T.F. Green International Airport

Breeze hub

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio joined Breeze Airways Chief Operations Officer Mike Wuerger, Governor Dan McKee, and state and local officials today to celebrate Breeze Airways’ inaugural day as a base of operations at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD). With this launch, Breeze Airways has completed its initial hiring…

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Speaker Shekarchi announces $4 million in funds for district and community-based organization programming

Warwick funding announcement

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senator Mark P. McKenney joined Governor Dan McKee, Mayor Frank Picozzi, Representative Joseph J. Solomon, Jr., Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, Superintendent Lynn Dambruch, Oakland Beach Elementary School Principal Paul Heatherton, Boys & Girls Club of Warwick CEO Lara D’Antuono, and school and community-based organization leaders at Oakland Beach Elementary School…

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