Legislation

The majority of states allow for in-person early voting, recognizing that allowing people several days - instead of just one crowded day - to cast their ballot only increases the ability of the public to exercise the franchise.

The Access to Public Records Act is essential to promoting open government and an informed citizenry. Despite updates to the law in 2012, an audit by the ACLU and other groups found the law’s enforcement policies insufficient to ensure compliance from dozens of agencies.

To draw new voting districts, any individuals incarcerated at the ACI in Cranston on the day the Census worker comes through are recorded as living at the prison, including individuals awaiting trial or serving misdemeanor sentences who are still allowed to vote, but only from their home addresses.

Through a combination of cheap, sophisticated technology and financial incentives provided by the federal government, law enforcement entities nationwide have begun obtaining and using drones. Yet, the laws protecting us from misuse have not caught up with the technology or the demand.

This much talked-about bill aimed to “require Internet service providers to provide digital blocking of sexual content and patently offensive material . . . and allow consumers to deactivate digital block upon payment of a twenty dollar ($20.00) fee.”

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.