An Update from the State House

Welcome to the first edition of Under the Dome 2018! 
On January 2, 2018, the legislature began its new year.  In the coming weeks, legislation will be filed, hearings will be held and the Chamber may ask you to contact your legislators when the need arises.  If you haven’t done so already, please go to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s web page, https://vote.sos.ri.gov/ and enter your information as requested (if you live in Rhode Island), so that you will know who represents you as a State Representative and a State Senator.  Thank you for your help!
 
Legislative Calendar
The calendar for 2018 has been released.  The key dates to keep in mind are:
Opening Day               January 2, 2018
Last Day for Senate Public Bill Introduction             February 8, 2018
Last Day for House Public Bill Introduction             February 15, 2018
Winter Break                                                               February 19-23, 2018
Spring Recess                                                              April 16-20, 2018
 
The following bills were filed last week:
House Bill No. 7014, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Creates an economic hardship relief fund from penalties imposed on contractors for past due road or bridge projects to be paid to business owners who can show a decline in revenue as a result of the past due completion of a road or bridge project.)
 
House Bill No. 7023, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION (Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or five and one-half percent (5.5%), whichever is greater.)
 
House Bill No. 7024, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- HEALTHY WORKPLACE (Creates the "Healthy Workplace Act of 2018 and establishes a cause of action against employers and employees for workplace bullying, harassment and other abusive conduct that is tolerated by employers.)
 
House Bill No. 7038, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW - GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS - CONSUMER EMPOWERMENT AND IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION ACT OF 2006 (Provides that a credit reporting agency may not charge a consumer any fee in connection with the placement, temporary lifting or permanent removal of a credit security freeze.)
 
House Bill No. 7058, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - VETERANS' SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM (Creates a transitioning veterans' small business loan program through the commerce corporation.)
 
Senate Resolution No. 2001, JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO ENTER INTO FINANCING LEASE AND PAYMENT AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BALLPARK IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET
 
Senate Bill No. 2002, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND PROJECTS (Permits redevelopment agencies to finance the construction of projects for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, institutional, public, or other purposes contemplated by a redevelopment plan.)