Legislation

Every year, the ACLU of RI lobbies on hundreds of bills during Rhode Island's annual Legislative Session. Below are some of the bills we have tracked and testified on before the General Assembly. For more info on advocating for the issues you care about, check out our Advocacy 101 Guide. To see how your Reps and Senators voted on various bills over the past few years, visit our Legislative Scorecards page.

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Mar 15, 2021
S 336
Metal set of scales
Metal set of scales
Mar 15, 2021
S 336

Senate Rules (S 336)

Government Transparency
Position: Needs amendments
Status: Passed

The introduction of the Rhode Island Senate rules this session prompted our initial commentary in two specific aspects.

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Mar 12, 2021
S 421
Metal set of scales
Metal set of scales
Mar 12, 2021
S 421

Tenant Immigration Status (H 5734, S 421)

Immigrants’ Rights
Position: Support
Status: Died

We supported this bill which would have prevented landlords from inquiring about the immigration status of their tenants or potential tenants.

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Mar 12, 2021
H 5866
Metal set of scales
Metal set of scales
Mar 12, 2021
H 5866

Stingrays (H 5866)

Due Process
Position: Support
Status: Died

This important piece of technology, privacy, and law enforcement policy would have prohibited law enforcement agencies from using stingray devices without a court order.

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Mar 12, 2021
H 5887, H 5891, S 715, S 804
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Metal set of scales
Mar 12, 2021
H 5887, H 5891, S 715, S 804

Remote Open Meetings (H 5887, H 5891, S 715, S 804)

Government Transparency
Position: Needs amendments

Two pieces of legislation sought to enshrine in law the ability for bodies to continue with virtual meetings.

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Mar 12, 2021
H 6215, S 563
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Metal set of scales
Mar 12, 2021
H 6215, S 563

LGBTQ Discrimination and Fair Housing (H 6215, S 563)

LGBTQ+ Rights
Position: Support
Status: Passed

We supported legislation that makes a number of changes to the state’s fair housing law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Mar 12, 2021
H 5384
Metal set of scales
Metal set of scales
Mar 12, 2021
H 5384

Reclassification of Drugs (H 5384)

Criminal Justice
Position: Support
Status: Held for Further Study

We supported an important bill which would reclassify the simple possession of drugs from a felony to a misdemeanor offense.

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