Legislation

This bill would have clarified the current tax exemption that exists for the sales of books by their authors to apply to works of non-fiction as well as fiction.

We testified in support of legislation which added feminine hygiene products to the items exempted from sales taxes.

This legislation would have created a commission to study the impact of decriminalizing prostitution laws in Rhode Island.

While we supported several provisions in this bill, which addressed the sale and maintenance of consumers’ personal information by businesses, we noted that the legislation could have been strengthened in two ways in order to more effectively protect consumers.

The ACLU expressed concerns about the breadth of this legislation, which allows representatives of the RISPCA, a private organization, to seize animals if they appeared to be “aged,” “disabled,” or “sick,” without any requirement of exigent circumstances.

We supported this bill which creates a special legislative commission to study ways in which Rhode Island can encourage people of color to enter the field of education.

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

Although vetoed last year by the governor, this bill, which requires disclosure as to whether a property had been used to grow marijuana before the property is sold, was re-introduced this session and initially raised concerns.

This bill would have proposed an amendment to the Rhode Island constitution guaranteeing the right to an adequate education.