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Sen. Judiciary to Vote on Elections, Heat Waste Bills

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The RI State House. RIDOH warns COVID-19 masks are a must as spread is likely outside the home. Gov. Raimondo also announced RI will be expanding COVID-19 Tests.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The RI State House. RIDOH warns COVID-19 masks are a must as spread is likely outside the home. Gov. Raimondo also announced RI will be expanding COVID-19 Tests.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The RI State House. RIDOH warns COVID-19 masks are a must as spread is likely outside the home. Gov. Raimondo also announced RI will be expanding COVID-19 Tests.

STATE HOUSE – The Senate Judiciary Committee meets virtually Thursday on bills including filling general office vacancies and banning new high-heat waste processing facilities.

The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, at 5 p.m. via WebEx. The meeting will be streamed live by Capitol Television at http://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx.

Among the bills scheduled for votes are:

  • 2021-S 0015 — This joint resolution sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) would present to voters a constitutional amendment that would create a procedure to fill vacancies in the offices of secretary of state, attorney general or general treasurer.
  • 2021-S 0057 — Also sponsored by Majority Leader McCaffrey, this bill would require a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, attorney general or general treasurer if more than one year is left in the term of office.
  • 2021-S 0059 — Sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, North Providence, Providence), this bill establishes a statewide public safety computer-aided dispatch records management system.

Among the numerous bills scheduled for hearings are the bill concerning high-heat waste processing facilities, several bills concerning redistricting and several concerning animals, including:

  • 2021-S 0527 — Sponsored by Sen. Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, East Greenwich, Narragansett), this bill would prohibit new high-heat waste processing facilities.
  • 2021-S 0852 — Sponsored by Senate President Ruggerio, this bill creates a special commission on reapportionment whose purpose is to draft and to report to the General Assembly an act to reapportion the districts of the General Assembly and congressional districts.
  • 2021-S 0806 — Sponsored by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston), this bill would prohibit the sale, offer of sale, trade or distribution of fur products.

The State House remains closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Written testimony for the bills scheduled for hearings is encouraged and can be submitted by email to [email protected]. Written testimony must be submitted by 2 p.m. Thursday for it to be provided to the committee and be included in the meeting records. Requests to provide verbal testimony must be submitted at this link by 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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