Rhode Island Senate

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...

This week, Senator Lou DiPalma took part in an announcement of the inaugural members at Ocean State Labs, Rhode Island's first life science incubator designed to support & accelerate the growth of innovative companies in the life sciences sector.

Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11541?s...

Rhode Island senator proposes 'Taylor Swift Tax' for vacation homes A Rhode Island senator has proposed a tax on vacation homes valued at over $1 million called the "Taylor Swift Tax." Proponents of the tax say the revenue could be used to build more affordable housin...

Joined @nbcnews.com to talk about my Taylor Swift Tax: millionaire flight is a myth. A fair tax code is an "affront to wealthy people?" Cue the world's smallest violin. Working RIers can't afford a home, and I'll stand on the side of the people til I'm six feet under. www.nbcnews.com/video/rhode-...

Nora Ayanian Associate Professor of Engineering and Computer Science's lab

Kimani Toussaint's PROBE lab

Louise Manfredi Associate Professor of the Practice, Director of the Brown Design Workshop

Peipei Zhou Assistant Professor of Engineering

Several members of the @risenate.bsky.social and @rihouseofreps.bsky.social were on campus today to witness the ways @brownengineering.bsky.social builds local community partnerships, applies real-world technology, and drives innovation throughout the state.