Back to Providence Special Committee on State Legislative Affairs

The Special Committee on State Legislative Affairs-Monday-4/7/25-5:30PM

April 07, 2025

Call to Order, Roll Call, and Opening Remarks

00:00 - 01:31

Chairman Gonzalez called the Committee on State Affairs meeting to order and confirmed a quorum was present. Attendees and staff members supporting the committee were acknowledged.

Items 1 and 2: Resolutions on 2024 Legislative Items (H-7062)

01:31 - 02:30

The committee considered previous session legislation regarding municipal zoning ordinances and related matters. A motion was passed to waive the readings and continue both items indefinitely.

Item 3: Resolutions on Education and State Aid (H-7401/S-2860 & H-7402/S-2861)

02:30 - 03:29

The committee addressed resolutions urging passage of 2024 legislative bills related to education funding and the Crowley Student Investment Initiative. The committee voted to continue the matters indefinitely.

Item 4: Resolution on Rhode Island Civil Rights Enforcement Act (H-5223 / S-0538)

03:29 - 08:37

The committee discussed legislation enabling civil actions against the state or municipalities for civil rights violations. The resolution was amended to include Senate companion bill S-0538 and recommended for passage.

Item 17: Resolution on Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit (H-5741)

08:37 - 15:27

Taken out of order, this item supports legislation decoupling sales tax rebates from maximum tax credit caps to facilitate projects like 111 Westminster with affordability components. The committee reviewed the financial and housing implications and voted to recommend approval.

Item 5: Resolution on Access to Public Records (H-5457)

15:27 - 20:52

The committee reviewed a bill requiring payment of outstanding balances for prior records requests before fulfilling new requests. The resolution was amended to include the unnumbered Senate companion bill and approved for recommendation.

Item 6: Resolution on Study of Public Utility Ownership (H-5161)

20:52 - 22:27

The committee reviewed a joint resolution establishing a commission to study the public ownership of utility carriers to increase competition. The resolution was amended to include an unnumbered Senate companion and recommended for passage.

Item 7: Resolution on Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act (H-5200 / S-0673)

22:27 - 24:06

The committee considered legislation intended to increase early childhood educator funding and statewide appropriations. The resolution was amended to incorporate Senate bill S-0673 and recommended for approval.

Item 8: Resolution on Rhode Island Child Care for All Act (H-5321)

24:06 - 25:10

This bill proposes expanding childcare access, capping household spending on childcare at 7%, and creating the Office for Early Learning. The committee amended the resolution to add an unnumbered Senate companion bill and voted to recommend approval.

Item 9: Resolution on Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (H-5436 / S-0358)

25:10 - 26:33

The committee discussed legislation that would prohibit the sale of assault weapons across the state. The resolution was amended to include Senate companion bill S-0358 and recommended to the full council.

Item 10: Resolution on Rideshare Vehicle Surcharge (S-0092)

26:33 - 28:30

The committee reviewed a Senate bill creating a surcharge on rideshare trips to fund municipal street infrastructure improvements and RIPTA transit. The resolution was amended to include an unnumbered House companion bill and recommended for passage.

Item 11: Resolution on Pharmacy Benefit Managers Transparency (S-0117 / H-5463)

28:30 - 29:42

This legislation introduces transparency mandates for Medicaid managed care organizations and eliminates spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers. The resolution was amended to include House bill H-5463 and approved for recommendation.

Item 12: Resolution on Minimum Wage Increase (H-5029 / S-0125)

29:42 - 36:14

The committee reviewed a proposal to gradually increase Rhode Island's minimum wage from $15 to $20 per hour in yearly increments by 2030. After comparing related pending wage bills, the committee voted to recommend passage.

Item 13: Resolution on Prior Authorization for Primary Care (H-5120 / S-0053)

36:14 - 37:29

The committee considered bills prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization for primary care provider services to reduce administrative delay. The committee approved a motion to recommend the resolution for passage.

Item 14: Resolution on Teacher Retirement and Certification (H-5322 & H-5339)

37:29 - 39:33

The committee discussed measures to alleviate teacher shortages by temporarily extending post-retirement work hours and adjusting certification testing requirements. The resolution was recommended for approval by the committee.

Item 15: Resolution on Victims of Crime Trauma-Informed Mobilization Act (H-5390 / S-0258)

39:33 - 41:25

The committee reviewed legislation creating a dedicated state grant fund for crime victim support organizations. The committee moved and voted to recommend passage of the resolution.

Item 16: Resolution on Insurance Coverage for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders (H-5432 / S-0054)

41:25 - 45:41

The committee evaluated legislation eliminating pre-authorization requirements for in-network behavioral health and substance use disorder treatments. Following discussion regarding provider burdens and patient access, the committee voted to recommend approval.

Item 18: Resolution on State Housing Supply Legislation Package

45:41 - 49:54

The committee discussed a comprehensive package of housing bills addressing building standards, electronic permitting, zoning barriers, and tax exemptions. The resolution was amended to include unnumbered Senate companion bills and recommended for approval.

Item 19: Resolution Supporting Public Transit Legislation (RIPTA Funding)

49:54 - 52:35

The committee considered resolutions supporting bills to provide operational funding, capital bonds, and tax revenue allocations for RIPTA. The motion to recommend approval was passed.

Adjournment

52:35 - 52:52

With no further business remaining on the agenda, a motion to adjourn was made and approved. The meeting was officially adjourned.

Unknown

00:00 - 00:00

Oh,

Unknown

00:37 - 00:48

Good evening, everyone. Today is 04/07/2025. This is the committee on state affairs. The time is 05:32. Madam clerk, please call the vote.

Unknown

00:48 - 00:50

Chairman Gonzalez.

Unknown

00:50 - 00:50

Present.

Unknown

00:50 - 00:57

Vice Chairman Dorris is absent. Councilwoman Peterson. Present. Councilwoman Vargas? Present.

Unknown

00:57 - 01:02

Councilwoman Graves is absent. We have three present and two absent. We have a quorum.

Unknown

01:02 - 01:31

That's it. I wanna just acknowledge some people in our room. Thank you to our city's visitor for being here. Also, thank you to city clerk, city and policy staff for joining us, policy analyst. Brendan Dougherty, thank you for joining us as well as our deputy policy director, Miguel Yonas, and intergovernmental care deputy director, Michael McAulitano.

Unknown

01:31 - 01:37

Thank you much. Thank you so much for joining. So we'll read item number one into the record.

Unknown

01:37 - 01:53

Resolute resolution endorsing and urging the passage by the general assembly of house jail 2024 h dash seven zero six two in accolating to towns and cities zoning ordinances. This matter is to be continued indefinitely.

Unknown

01:53 - 02:11

Great. So there are two items, number one into, I think, that were introduced during the twenty four legislative session. So if there's a motion to sort of waive the readings by item one and two. Alright? Moved by councilor Peterson, seconded by councilor Vargas.

Unknown

02:12 - 02:30

So we'll waive the readings, items one and two, and can we have a motion to also continue those items indefinitely? Motion to continue indefinitely. Motion to be continued indefinitely by counselor Pearson, seconded by the counselor Vargas. All those in favor? Aye.

Unknown

02:30 - 02:38

All those opposed? The ayes have it. Okay. So I think we could move on to item number three.

Unknown

02:39 - 03:12

Resolution endorsing and urging passage by the general assembly of house bill twenty twenty four h dash seven four zero one and senate bill twenty twenty four s dash two eight six zero and acts relating to education, the Paul W. Crowley Gradland Student Investment Initiative in House Bill twenty twenty four h dash seven four zero two and senate bill twenty twenty four s dash two eight six one and acts relating to education state aid. This matter is to be continued indefinitely.

Unknown

03:12 - 03:29

So this is, yes, another matter that would be continued indefinitely because it was introduced during the twenty four legislative session. Third council member that would like to Motion to continue. Continue. That's councilor Peterson, seconded by councilor Vargas. All those in favor?

Unknown

03:29 - 03:34

No. All of the votes. Item number four.

Unknown

03:35 - 03:48

Resolution endorsing and urging passage by the general assembly of house bill twenty twenty five h dash five two two three and act relating to state affairs and government, the Rhode Island Civil Rights Enforcement Act.

Unknown

03:49 - 04:47

So this item offers support for h five two two three, which would provide a cause of action for civil rights violations by state and municipalities and a statute of limitations of three years from the latter of the date of the rights violation or the date of the awareness of the violation of the third party. This has fiscal implications as this legislation could open this data to potential liabilities, and there's also a resolution potentially to support this in the senate if we so choose by amending this resolution to include s five thirty eight, and that's the senate meeting. You discuss it on on

Unknown

04:47 - 04:51

the side? Could I? Sorry. Sure. Yeah.

Unknown

04:51 - 04:55

Possibly, have to confirm the policy. We'll go a little bit further on the explanation on this one.

Unknown

04:58 - 05:00

I may. Yeah. Yes.

Unknown

05:00 - 05:40

On 5223, as noted, it would allow a person who has been harmed by the state of Rhode Island to pull one of its agents in the course of their duties with the exception of certain amounts of judicial and legislative action that would be considered immune, could distort the use of municipality the municipality, but then the municipality would be sued in attempt to recover for the violation of their rights. It's one additional way of acting for certain states of.

Unknown

05:42 - 05:43

Thank you for that.

Unknown

05:44 - 05:49

And do we have a sense of who the the the sponsor is on on that? Yeah.

Unknown

05:49 - 05:53

Was just on Brett Fraven. It's Okay.

Unknown

05:53 - 06:03

This is I think this is also legislation that is being sponsored. So that that's an. In terms

Unknown

06:03 - 06:09

of Providence reps, we've got representative Morales and representative Batista. K.

Unknown

06:13 - 06:32

The recommendation would also be to amend this resolution to include the senate containing bill. If we decide to move forward on this, some of the make a potential to amend this resolution to include that senate committee bill before it goes back to the entire council.

Unknown

06:34 - 07:24

I was trying to find what we're going on. You will make an amendment to to get for it in 2012?

Unknown

07:25 - 07:35

Yes. And deputy Barker, is this something that you would want to speak on? And there and are a couple other things that will take out of turn to to get

Unknown

07:37 - 07:38

those statements.

Unknown

07:39 - 07:43

What would the motion be? Move to

Unknown

07:46 - 07:48

Recommend amending the resolution. I

Unknown

07:49 - 08:00

move to I move to recommend amending the resolution to include the senate companion bill s zero five three eight to this resolution.

Unknown

08:01 - 08:14

Great. So motion to amend this resolution to include the senate bill moved by councilor Peterson. Second. Seconded by councilor Vargas. All those in favor?

Unknown

08:14 - 08:27

Aye. All those opposed? The ayes have it. And then is there a recommendation to approve I recommend passage to the entire council or or a copy of recommendation to the council? As amended.

Unknown

08:28 - 08:36

So that is made by council Peterson, seconded by councilor Vargas. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. All those opposed?

Unknown

08:37 - 08:49

Before discussion? Maybe you guys have it. So I guess we're gonna take a couple items. I've heard to accommodate the deputy director. I think he's gotta get going soon.

Unknown

08:49 - 08:54

So deputy director, which item is signed by the the document, I think?

Unknown

08:54 - 09:03

It's item 17 in act relating to state of affairs and development and to build our. Let's see.

Unknown

09:03 - 09:20

Do we have a motion to yes. You item 17 in the docket today. I'm sorry. Motion made by master Peterson, seconded by counselor Vargas. All those in favor.

Unknown

09:20 - 09:25

All those opposed. The ayes have it. So, madam clerk, that's item number 17.

Unknown

09:26 - 09:38

Resolution endorsing and urging passage by the general assembly of house bills twenty twenty five h dash five seven four one and accolating to state affairs and government. Rebuild Rhode Island tax credit.

Unknown

09:39 - 09:44

So that'd the record for the year. Thank you, chair. This

Unknown

09:46 - 10:08

resolution is done in support of five steps. One, the sponsor is that we speak for a call. There will be a senate campaign in in in the Brazilian. It just hasn't been posted yet. What it does is it seeks to amend the new build hourly tax credit program.

Unknown

10:08 - 11:08

For those who don't know what that is, it was it's a tax credit program administered through Rhode Island Commerce. It started a couple years ago under the Ramondo administration in the in the state of rebuilding Rhode Island to manufacturing, historic rehabilitation, and mainly housing. This particular bill, we're looking to amend it to help with the kind of final phases to start building at 111 Westminster, but this legislation would apply to other projects other than just 111 Westminster. Specifically, what it does is it will decouple the sales and tax rebate program from the maximum cap that a project can receive under the rebuild ROI. Right now, the cap is 15,000,000.

Unknown

11:09 - 11:40

However, if you also have a sales and tax rebate, maybe 15,000,000, you are not allowed to collect both. It used to be you could collect both, but the legislature changed that about six, seven years ago. Obviously, the cost of construction has increased. Inflation has increased. So this legislation will decouple the sales and use tax rebate and the maximum tax credit.

Unknown

11:41 - 12:13

The sales and use tax is in this case, you know, construction supplies. Our view, the administration's view is that if this project doesn't happen, the state's not getting that revenue anyway. And this doesn't cost the province taxpayers anything. It is simply just an ability to have that that project be able to capitalize on another tool and toolbox that you are further incentivized to create the construction of that building. We estimate that it would be about

Unknown

12:13 - 12:15

it's worth about 4,500,000

Unknown

12:15 - 12:43

for construction costs. And then, like I said, it would apply to other projects, but that you know, it's not just a dead giveaway. Any other project, you still have to go to the commerce board and be vetted by them in order to to get this tax credit even in the sales industry. I'll take any questions, but that's that's that's exactly what it is.

Unknown

12:43 - 12:46

Any questions from committee members, councilor Peterson?