Legislation

The ACLU joined with the Public Defender and the RI Coalition for the Homeless to support legislation requiring municipal courts to provide free attorneys to indigent defendants charged with ordinance violations that could result in imprisonment.

Based on new federal regulations, legislation was introduced which would establish a formal process for the incarceration of an individual to be taken into consideration for the purposes of modifying child support orders.

The ACLU testified that under this legislation, one single act online that is then used by others to justify harassment would be criminal, holding individuals accountable for the actions of others even if they meant no harm with their original post.

In March and May, the ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees, respectively, in support of legislation permitting the issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Legislation sought to make Rhode Island the next state to adopt “death with dignity” legislation, allowing terminal patients to seek medication to end their lives.

In April and May, the ACLU testified before the House and Senate Judiciary committees, respectively, in support of legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana use by adults.

The General Assembly approved important legislation allowing individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to ease their symptoms using medical marijuana.

Legislation sought to address the gender pay gap in Rhode Island by making it easier for individuals facing wage differentials to file a civil action against their employer, during which it would be up to the employer to demonstrate that the wage gap was on the basis of something other than sex.

The General Assembly considered, but did not act on, legislation ensuring that student newspapers share the same press freedom as other newspapers.