Tagged: general assembly

(PROVIDENCE, RI) The state Senate approved a bill Thursday to allow additional time for a controversial merger of two state boards of education.

The bill will continue the existence until March 7 of separate state boards for K-through-12 and public higher education. It also pushes back until September the final structure for combining the two boards.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Bill to legalize same-sex marriage were introduced Thursday in each chamber of the General Assembly.

Senator Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket) is the lead sponsor of a Senate bill with about a dozen sponsors.

In the House, the bill was introduced by Representative Art Handy (D-Cranston) with about 40 sponsors.

The House Judiciary Committee could take up the bill as soon as next week.

It’s not clear when the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up the bill on the Senate side.

A bill introduced Wednesday by state Senator Hanna Gallo would delay until September 1 the “final plan for the permanent administrative structure” for the controversial combined state Board of Education.

In a signal of a green light for the bill, cosponsors include Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio.

The court-ordered pension mediation set to begin this month will take place against an intensifying political backdrop: the early stage of the 2014 gubernatorial race. State Treasurer Gina Raimondo says politics can remain separate and apart from the mediation process.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) House Speaker Gordon Fox says the time has come for the state Senate to pass a same-sex marriage bill.

Fox, who is openly gay, was joined by his partner as he received the oath of office Tuesday for another term as House speaker.

Fox says Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed hasn’t given him any assurances about the fate of same-sex marriage bill. He says he hopes this is the year for the legislation to move forward.