Legislation

While state law restricts shackling pregnant prisoners during transport to a medical facility and during labor, a gap in the law allowed for shackling during transport to and from court.

Nationwide, have historically been charged more for the same health insurance as men - solely because of their gender - leaving women less able to purchase vital health care coverage. Legislation would have banned gender rating in Rhode Island regardless of any changes to federal law.

Legislation introduced this year would have addressed the issuance of lengthy prison sentences against juveniles who are charged as adults.

These proposals would reclassify certain felonies into misdemeanors, reducing the collateral consequences for individuals convicted of those crimes, and would require the preparation of prison impact statements.

This legislation would have allowed drivers a hearing to prove their inability to pay traffic fines, and authorized payment plans or reductions in the fines before their license is suspended.

Despite concerns that photo voter ID laws disenfranchise elderly, transient and poor voters as well as voters of color, Rhode Island continues to require photo ID upon voting. This legislation would have repealed the law.

This legislation would have prohibited state-purchased or funded Internet service providers (ISPs) from halting, slowing, or otherwise tampering with the transfer of data, thus ensuring fair and equal access to all Internet content.

Legislation introduced this year highlighted the absurdity of the current policy by also allowing students to bring to school over-the-counter products to treat menstrual cramps or vaginal yeast infections without a doctor’s or parent’s note.

In recent years, school districts statewide have begun handing out school-owned computers for at-home use by students. These devices carry virtually no privacy protections, allowing schools to spy on students at home.