State News:
The 2023-24 General Assembly session has started with a whimper. Both the House and Senate have scheduled limited sessions for the month of January. The Senate has formally announced committees and in fact two Senate committee have a scheduled hearing the week of January 31. The Senate Composition remains the same i.e. 33 Democrats and only 5 Republicans. Once again Dominick J. Ruggerio was re-elected Senate President and Ryan Pearson was elected Senate Majority Leader (new). The new Minority Leader is Jessica de la Cruz.
Several major Senate committees have new chairpersons. The major committees and chairs are as follows:
- Commerce – Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski
- Education – Sen. Sandra Cano
- Environment & Agriculture – Sen. Alana DiMario (new)
- Finance – Sen. Louis DiPalma (new)
- Health & Human Services – Sen. Joshua Miller
- Housing & Municipal Government – Sen. Frank Lombardo, III
- Judiciary – Sen. Dawn Euer (new)
- Labor – Sen. Frank A. Ciccone, III
- Senate Rules, Government, Ethics & Oversight – Sen. Mark McKenney (new)
The House leadership remains the same – Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Majority Leader Christopher R. Blazejewski and House Minority Leader Michael W. Chippendale (new). There is talk that some of the House committees may be divided. For example, House Health and Human Services into (1) House Health and (2) House Human Services. This will create more committee chairpersons. The following are considered safe “bets” as House Committee Chairpersons:
- Corporations – Rep. Joseph J. Solomon, Jr.
- Education – Rep. Joseph J. McNamara
- Environment & Natural Resources – Rep. David A. Bennett
- Finance – Rep. Marvin L. Abney
- Health & Human Services – Rep. Stephen M. Casey
- Innovation, Internet & Technology – Rep. Arthur Handy
- Judiciary – Rep. Robert E. Craven, Sr.
- Labor – new Municipal Government & Housing – Rep. Raymond A. Hull
Issues Update:
Governor Daniel McKee’s primary agenda includes raising the income of Rhode Islanders; making sure the base is there for individuals to learn the skills necessary for good paying jobs; improving education outcomes to reach Massachusetts levels; creating a healthier Rhode Island i.e., addressing chronic disease and health outcomes; and converting the housing shortage including conversion of commercial properties to housing units.