Both a blood donor and a past donation recipient, Senator Lammis Vargas is shown recently donating blood at the Rhode Island Blood Center. She recently sponsored a work-place bill intended to make it easier for full-time employees to take time to donate blood. Submitted photo by Sen. Lammis Vargas
As the current legislative session draws near a close, local legislators remain busy with a variety of bills that address a wide range of issues. Below is a summary of some recent actions.
Encouraging blood donations
In a move to boost blood donations in the state, Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) is sponsoring a bill that would allow full-time employees to take paid time off once a year to leave work and give blood.
The legislation (2026-S 2928) would enable full-time employees working in Rhode Island to take up to four hours of paid time, once per year, to donate blood through Rhode Island Blood Center or any other nationally approved blood donation organizations. The bill specifies that employees would not lose pay or any other accrued benefits and would provide their employers with “reasonable” advance notice. The scheduling of time off would be subject to the operational needs of the employers and written verification of the donation can be required.
“As we saw following more than one recent tragedy in our state, our blood supply is a critical public health resource,” Vargas said in a press release. “This bill makes it a little easier for people to donate, to boost participation and better ensure that blood is available in any time of need.”
Vargas noted that she is both a blood donor and a past recipient, having required blood transfusions during treatment for leukemia as well as after the birth of one of her children.
The bill is before the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee and companion legislation in the house is being sponsored by State Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls).
Campaign funds for personal security
Responding to the growing number of threats and incidents of violence against candidates and elected officials in Rhode Island and across the country, the Senate recently approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo to explicitly allow that campaign funds to be used for home security systems.
“Individuals who seek public office make many sacrifices, but they cannot be expected to sacrifice their personal safety,” said Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), who serves as Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Education. “Far too often, we are seeing threats and acts of violence against elected officials at all levels of government. Elected officials and their families should not have to endure this, and we should be doing everything we can to ensure they are safe.”
Last year, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were assassinated in their home, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their home. Also last year, Rhode Island state legislators were among several across the country whose homes were targets of bomb threats.
Known as the SECURE Act, or the Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures Act, the legislation (2026-S 2334A) would clarify that campaign funds may be used for security-related purposes, including home and office security systems and their ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from public service or candidacy. Such systems may include alarms, video surveillance, access control systems and their monitoring.
The bill would limit expenditures to $10,000 per individual in an election cycle. Additional safeguards include express prohibitions on payments to family members or entities owned or controlled by them; unrelated home improvements; and firearms or ammunition. Expenses must, reported on campaign finance reports, and supported by itemized receipts or invoices.
Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) has introduced similar legislation (2026-S 7495) in the House of Representatives.
School access for first responders
A proposal from Cranston Senator Todd M. Patalano that ensures that first responders have quick emergency access to all public and private schools was approved by the Senate last week.
The legislation (2026-S 2280A) requires all schools and educational institutions to develop and implement a school safety plan that would ensure that first responders have immediate and unobstructed access to all of a school’s facilities through the use of key fobs, card access, manual key access or other means.
This adds another layer of security to our schools,” said Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), who is a major with the Cranston Police Department. “In incidents where there is an active shooter or other grave danger, we want police officers to be unhindered so they can quickly neutralize the threat.”
“In most of these cases, the incident is over in three to seven minutes,” he said, adding that in Cranston police officers have key fobs all police officers have key fobs granting them instant access to all school buildings.
Dr. Kevin Eberle, a former school principal and police officer, and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns testified in favor of the legislation.
The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced similar legislation (2026-H 7897).
Investing in multilingual education
Legislation sponsored by Providence Rep. David Morales to invest in multilingual education was included in the amended budget bill approved by a vote of the full House of Representatives Friday, June 5.
Representative Morales sponsored the Support and Access to Bilingual Education (SABE) Act (2026-H 7389) to establish a bilingual education support fund within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support dual language education programs in schools. The amended budget (2026-H 7127Aaa) includes Rep. Morales’ bill and allocates $750,000 to the support these programs.
Sen. Mark McKenney (D-District 30, Warwick) sponsored the companion bill (2026-S 2555) which is pending in the Senate.
The fund will be used to help implement dual language programs in public schools and to expand bilingual, dual language and world language teaching certifications for teachers through scholarships to cover certification costs for teachers in areas of high need.
Rhode Island had the fastest growth of multilingual learners in the nation between 2011 and 2021 and had the sixth highest percentage of multilingual learners among U.S. states as of 2021. Some communities have experienced significantly higher increases: the Newport school districts reported a 327% increase in multilingual learners over the last decade.
‘Zero tolerance’ for sports hazing
The General Assembly passed legislation on June 8 introduced by area legislators Rep. Joseph M. McNamara and Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain that would create a statewide anti-hazing policy for Rhode Island public schools. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
The bill (2026-H 7003, 2026-S 2495) would compel the Department of Education to develop the policy in conjunction with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and would establish zero tolerance for hazing and ensure discipline that is transparent and consistent.
“As a retired educator, coach and former student athlete, I can state without reservation that hazing is degrading, abusive and dangerous,” said Representative McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), who chairs the House Education Committee. “We’ve all worked hard to make schools safer, more welcoming and more inclusive. Athletics should not be an exception to that rule. Regardless of what form it takes, hazing creates an environment of trauma and humiliation, and we have to take it more seriously.”
As the current legislative session draws near a close, local legislators remain busy with a variety of bills that address a wide range of issues. Below is a summary of some recent actions.
Encouraging blood donations
In a move to boost blood donations in the state, Sen. Lammis J. Vargas (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) is sponsoring a bill that would allow full-time employees to take paid time off once a year to leave work and give blood.
The legislation (2026-S 2928) would enable full-time employees working in Rhode Island to take up to four hours of paid time, once per year, to donate blood through Rhode Island Blood Center or any other nationally approved blood donation organizations. The bill specifies that employees would not lose pay or any other accrued benefits and would provide their employers with “reasonable” advance notice. The scheduling of time off would be subject to the operational needs of the employers and written verification of the donation can be required.
“As we saw following more than one recent tragedy in our state, our blood supply is a critical public health resource,” Vargas said in a press release. “This bill makes it a little easier for people to donate, to boost participation and better ensure that blood is available in any time of need.”
Vargas noted that she is both a blood donor and a past recipient, having required blood transfusions during treatment for leukemia as well as after the birth of one of her children.
The bill is before the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee and companion legislation in the house is being sponsored by State Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Dist. 60, Pawtucket, Central Falls).
Campaign funds for personal security
Responding to the growing number of threats and incidents of violence against candidates and elected officials in Rhode Island and across the country, the Senate recently approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo to explicitly allow that campaign funds to be used for home security systems.
“Individuals who seek public office make many sacrifices, but they cannot be expected to sacrifice their personal safety,” said Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), who serves as Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Education. “Far too often, we are seeing threats and acts of violence against elected officials at all levels of government. Elected officials and their families should not have to endure this, and we should be doing everything we can to ensure they are safe.”
Last year, Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were assassinated in their home, and Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were shot in their home. Also last year, Rhode Island state legislators were among several across the country whose homes were targets of bomb threats.
Known as the SECURE Act, or the Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures Act, the legislation (2026-S 2334A) would clarify that campaign funds may be used for security-related purposes, including home and office security systems and their ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from public service or candidacy. Such systems may include alarms, video surveillance, access control systems and their monitoring.
The bill would limit expenditures to $10,000 per individual in an election cycle. Additional safeguards include express prohibitions on payments to family members or entities owned or controlled by them; unrelated home improvements; and firearms or ammunition. Expenses must, reported on campaign finance reports, and supported by itemized receipts or invoices.
Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence) has introduced similar legislation (2026-S 7495) in the House of Representatives.
School access for first responders
A proposal from Cranston Senator Todd M. Patalano that ensures that first responders have quick emergency access to all public and private schools was approved by the Senate last week.
The legislation (2026-S 2280A) requires all schools and educational institutions to develop and implement a school safety plan that would ensure that first responders have immediate and unobstructed access to all of a school’s facilities through the use of key fobs, card access, manual key access or other means.
This adds another layer of security to our schools,” said Patalano (D-Dist. 26, Cranston), who is a major with the Cranston Police Department. “In incidents where there is an active shooter or other grave danger, we want police officers to be unhindered so they can quickly neutralize the threat.”
“In most of these cases, the incident is over in three to seven minutes,” he said, adding that in Cranston police officers have key fobs all police officers have key fobs granting them instant access to all school buildings.
Dr. Kevin Eberle, a former school principal and police officer, and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns testified in favor of the legislation.
The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick) has introduced similar legislation (2026-H 7897).
Investing in multilingual education
Legislation sponsored by Providence Rep. David Morales to invest in multilingual education was included in the amended budget bill approved by a vote of the full House of Representatives Friday, June 5.
Representative Morales sponsored the Support and Access to Bilingual Education (SABE) Act (2026-H 7389) to establish a bilingual education support fund within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to support dual language education programs in schools. The amended budget (2026-H 7127Aaa) includes Rep. Morales’ bill and allocates $750,000 to the support these programs.
Sen. Mark McKenney (D-District 30, Warwick) sponsored the companion bill (2026-S 2555) which is pending in the Senate.
The fund will be used to help implement dual language programs in public schools and to expand bilingual, dual language and world language teaching certifications for teachers through scholarships to cover certification costs for teachers in areas of high need.
Rhode Island had the fastest growth of multilingual learners in the nation between 2011 and 2021 and had the sixth highest percentage of multilingual learners among U.S. states as of 2021. Some communities have experienced significantly higher increases: the Newport school districts reported a 327% increase in multilingual learners over the last decade.
‘Zero tolerance’ for sports hazing
The General Assembly passed legislation on June 8 introduced by area legislators Rep. Joseph M. McNamara and Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain that would create a statewide anti-hazing policy for Rhode Island public schools. The measure now moves to the governor’s office.
The bill (2026-H 7003, 2026-S 2495) would compel the Department of Education to develop the policy in conjunction with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and would establish zero tolerance for hazing and ensure discipline that is transparent and consistent.
“As a retired educator, coach and former student athlete, I can state without reservation that hazing is degrading, abusive and dangerous,” said Representative McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), who chairs the House Education Committee. “We’ve all worked hard to make schools safer, more welcoming and more inclusive. Athletics should not be an exception to that rule. Regardless of what form it takes, hazing creates an environment of trauma and humiliation, and we have to take it more seriously.”
The legislation comes on the heels of an incident at Smithfield High School where five seniors trapped a freshman in the bathroom while spraying him with Lysol, and another at Rogers High School in Newport where four teens were arrested for assaulting a student with special needs in a locker room.
“The guiding principle behind this bill and the policy it would create is that hazing, bullying and harassment have no place in any school environment,” said Senator LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “School sports and other activities are designed to build self-esteem in young people, not tear it down.”
