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 Replaces outdated & discriminatory laws with uniform procedures of establishing parentage, genetic testing, surrogacy agreements, & assisted reproduction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.

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Health & Safety

A healthy community is a prosperous community, and that extends to the assurance of patient privacy and relevant education.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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