Legislation

Following the widespread and surreptitious installation across the state of deceptively named “automated license plate reader” cameras that actually have incredibly invasive technological capabilities, we strongly supported legislation which would have limited the use of these cameras.

We opposed a bill seeking to increase the penalties for a variety of driving offenses, noting that the approach of sending people to prison for longer periods of time and imposing steeper fines on offenders would not deter reckless driving nor assist in the rehabilitation of offenders.

We opposed legislation which would expand the crime of stalking to include the act of following someone and using an electronic device to record their movements in a manner that is “seriously annoying.”

We opposed legislation which would provide unlimited authority to the Attorney General to conduct civil investigations in virtually every corner of public or private life.

We strongly opposed a number of bills which sought to limit the autonomy of transgender and gender nonconforming youth by banning critical healthcare services and restricting the ability for LGBTQ+ youth to participate in organized sports activities.

We strongly opposed a resolution which calls on our Congressional delegates to support adoption of a federal constitutional amendment designed to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial decision in the Citizens United campaign finance case.

We strongly supported this legislation which would create a commission to recommend the names of people to be considered for executive pardons by the Governor.

The ACLU of Rhode Island strongly opposed this legislation, introduced on behalf of the Attorney General, which would give his office veto power over a criminal defendant’s current legal right to waive their right to a jury trial.

Because there is no question that rehabilitation is substantially enhanced by making contact easier between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones, we strongly supported this bill which would provide free communication services to people at the ACI.