Here Are 8 Key Bills Approved by RI Lawmakers

Lawmakers approve studies on property taxes, health care, higher ed, housing

Housing construction in Portland. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star)The Maine Legislature approved seven studies on topics including property taxes, health care, higher education and housing production.  Some of these proposals initially started out as bills to make policy changes to the issues that will now instead be studied first. That was the case for LD 1770, which initially sought to both increase the property tax fairness credit and est…

Here are 8 key bills approved by RI lawmakers

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — As this year's legislative session came to an end, lawmakers passed dozens of bills relating to a variety of topics. The legislation ranged from addressing the state's housing crisis to creating a Rare Disease Advisory Council. Below are several key bills that lawmakers approved during the end-of-session activities. Shekarchi's housing bills package This was House Speaker Joe Shekarchi's fifth consecutive package of bil…

Maine health groups urge action after federal freeze on family planning funds

Maine groups warn that the loss of Title X funds will limit access to STI testing, cancer screening, and contraception for thousands across Maine.

Lawmakers OK additional $3M for reproductive health care

The additional funding approved by the Legislature's budget committee still needs to be supported by the Senate and signed by Gov. Mills.

Reproductive care providers warn of reduced health care access if funding cuts are finalized

During a virtual press conference Tuesday, Advocates raised concerns about possible cuts to funding for family planning services other than abortion, and about federal Medicaid restrictions that Planned Parenthood of Northern New England calls a "back door abortion ban.”

Local lawmakers win support for bills

Passage of an assault weapons ban last week made the biggest headlines, but there was a flurry of other late-session bills approved by the General Assembly, many proposed by lawmakers from our area. Here are some of the especially interesting…