Senate rolls through May 14 calendar: summary of measures passed and recorded votes

On May 14 the Rhode Island Senate disposed of its regular calendar with multiple recorded votes. Key outcomes and tallies from the session are listed below.

Education and related measures
• S2146 (Concussion Act): Passed, 24–10 (see separate article for debate).
• S2147 (Joint resolution — right to an adequate education): Passed, 34–0 recorded.
• S2148 (K–2 maximum class size — cap kindergarten at 20): Passed, 30–4.
• S2519 Sub A (Rhode Island Pre-Kindergarten Education Act): Passed, recorded 34–0 for the motion as reported.
• S2843 (Rhode Island Pre-Kindergarten Education Act companion measure): Passed, 29–5.

Health, oversight, and regulation
• S2844 (Special Education Ombuds): Passed, 29–5.
• S2817 (Office of State Medical Examiners — suicide death review teams): Passed, 34–0.
• S2819 (Licensing of nursing service agencies): Passed, 34–0.
• S2945 (Confidentiality of healthcare communications — BHDDH): Passed, 34–0.

Environment and consumer protection
• S2293 Sub A (Renewable Ready Program; amendment LC 4,790 fivetwo adopted): Passed, recorded votes show amendment adoption and final passage (amendment and bill tallies recorded on the floor).
• S2809 (PFAS monitoring delay and scope adjustments): Passed, 34–0.
• S2850 Sub A (Toxic Packaging Act deadline extension): Passed, 32–0 recorded.

Commercial code and taxation
• Amendments to Uniform Commercial Code (emerging technologies, controllable electronic records): Passed by recorded vote (32–0 on the UCC-related measures); Senator Bell noted he did not vote in order to signal he had not read the full text.

Procedure and next steps: Most measures passed by the Senate on the same day with recorded tallies as noted above. Several appointments and reappointments were referred to committees earlier in the session. The Senate recessed after announcements; bills passed by the Senate will proceed to the House or to follow-up procedures as required by law.