The Rhode Island Senate unanimously approved amended legislation introduced by Senator Mark McKenney that would expand opportunities for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to seek civil damages from individuals and institutions. The revised proposal addresses constitutional concerns raised during the legislative process while preserving a two-year revival window for certain claims, and now returns to the House for further consideration.

Senator Mark McKenney's legislation to restructure Rhode Island's coastal management system was highlighted in ongoing discussions about the future of the Coastal Resources Management Council. The article examines competing approaches to CRMC reform, including proposals supported by environmental advocates and state leaders as policymakers consider changes to the agency's oversight and decision-making structure.

Rhode Island Senate leaders unveiled a 17-bill healthcare package aimed at expanding behavioral health services, protecting patients and providers, and strengthening the state's healthcare workforce. The legislation addresses issues ranging from crisis response and insurance coverage to workforce development and medical education, reflecting ongoing efforts by Senate lawmakers, including Senator Mark McKenney, to improve access to quality healthcare across Rhode Island.

Senator Mark McKenney and Representative Joseph Solomon have introduced legislation to establish a Rhode Island Office of the Elder Advocate, a proposed independent office dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of older adults. The office would assist seniors in navigating state services, addressing issues such as age discrimination, financial exploitation, housing, access to benefits, and guardianship, while also advocating for improvements in elder care and government responsiveness.

Rhode Island’s Democratic-controlled state House on Friday approved legislation that would ban the sale and manufacturing of many semiautomatic rifles commonly referred to as assault weapons.

While fully automatic weapons, such as machine guns, are already illegal in Rhode Island, the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025 (H5436) aims to prohibit the purchase, sale, manufacturing, and possession of certain weapons, including semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols.

House Speaker Shekarchi says he supports the concept but the House is working on a possible amendment

Sen. Mark McKenney, a Warwick Democrat and chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, led a successful push for rules revisions that will requires the Senate to publish online any written testimony related to bills. The rules change, mirroring a similar change made by the House four years ago, has been pushed for by good government groups and media members without success until Sen. McKenney successfully persuaded naysayers to come around. 

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Mark McKenney (D-Warwick) was unanimously approved by the state Senate Finance Committee to create a Warwick School Budget Commission. “I certainly did not want to put it in, and I would prefer not to be here,” McKenney said. “It has been my hope that in the time it’s taken for this to move to this point, that the School Department can address the situation adequately. Unfortunately, there’s a serious lack of confidence that an adequate solution can be reached in-house, and that’s why we’re here.”

Rhode Island joins nearly 20 states, counties and municipalities across the country that now provide medical debt relief