The Issues
The key issues I’m focused on are those that affect folks in Warwick and around Rhode Island every day. I want to move us forward, and continue the work I started at the State House in 2019-2020.
Below, you’ll find some key highlights from the 2019 & 2020 legislative sessions. Some additional goals I hope to fight for moving forward include:
Continue to raise academic standards for our public schools improving curriculum, enhancing school self-governance and mandating local accountability
Sign Universal Pre-K into law
Improve and modernize services so small businesses can thrive
Support both college attendance and training for trades
Stop taxing Social Security and veterans’ pensions
2020 Legislative Session
While the 2020 session was a bit untraditional due to COVID-19, my colleagues and I still worked to move RI forward.
Bills I supported that were signed into law:
S 2004A: Ban on 3D printed & ghost guns
S 2136A: Updates RI’s laws re: parentage so that they are fair to all types of parents, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Replaces outdated & discriminatory laws with uniform procedures of establishing parentage, genetic testing, surrogacy agreements, & assisted reproduction
S 2147: Increase in minimum wage
Bills I supported that passed the Senate:
S 2003A: Offers recyclable bag options & provides penalties for violations in order to reduce use of plastic bags by retail establishments
S 2134: Bans housing discrimination based on lawful source of income
S 2139: Prevents using the disability of a parent as a basis for denial or restriction in matters involving a child’s welfare, foster care, family law, guardianship, & adoption
Bills I introduced or co-sponsored:
S 2531 (Bottle Bill): Creates a refundable $0.10 deposit for non-reusable beverage containers
S 2108: Establishes a fee on companies that sell fossil fuels in RI and establishes an “economic & climate resilience fund” to disburse the collected funds
S 2641: Phase-out of taxation of pensions & annuities over a 5-year period
S 2551: Prohibition of privately run prisons
S 2388: Authorizes a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraceptives, provided that the pharmacist has completed a training program approved by the state board of pharmacy
S 2431: Prohibits the questioning of a juvenile unless the parent or guardian is present, or unless an attorney is present and the parent/guardian has waived their presence
S 2439: Requires the joint committee on legislative services to make the record of GA votes available to the public electronically within 30 minutes of casting votes
Grants approved & disbursed:
A Wish Come True, Inc - $500
Almost Home Rescue - $1,500
Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball - $500
Cornerstone Adult Services, Inc. - $1,000
Jonah Inc. (James V. Johnson Memorial Scholarship) - $500
Pilgrim Senior Center - $1,000
Saint Elizabeth Home - $500
Volunteer Services for Animals - Warwick - $1,000
Volunteers of Warwick Schools - $1,000
Warwick Center for the Arts, Inc. - $500
Warwick Neck Improvement Association - $1,000
2019 Legislative Session
Education
I strongly believe that education is the foundation for the success of not only individuals, but also communities. This continues to be one of my top priorities.
Health & Safety
A healthy community is a prosperous community, and that extends to the assurance of patient privacy and relevant education.
The Budget
Heading into 2019, RI had a $200 million budget deficit. My colleagues and I worked hard to pass a responsible, balanced budget for 2020 without raising any broad-based taxes.
Protective Actions for Senior Citizens
All Rhode Islanders deserve to be taken care of, especially those in precarious circumstances. I was proud to support legislation designed to support first responder families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Voter Registration
I was honored to work with Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea on S 589, an important piece of voter registration legislation. In order to have a truly inclusive democracy, we need to remove unnecessary complications from the process. This is another crucial step towards enhanced civic engagement.