Starting the week off strong we have 3 important bills in Senate Judiciary to highlight: S733, which repeals LEOBOR; S597, which requires police to wear body cameras and limit force; and S253, which provides a safe haven for undocumented people while in school, at worship, or court. Please sign up to testify! Details below.
These are definitely not all the bills being heard this week, rather a sampling of bills you, the members of the Women’s Caucus, may be interested in. Bill text is linked next of every brief bill description, and links to sign up to testify for or against a bill are included below as well!
MONDAY, MAY 10th:
Senate Committee on Judiciary:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 9th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to jpbaxter@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 10th.
S733: repeals the law officers bill of rights (LEOBOR), allowing actual accountability over the police department - support
S597: requires the police to wear body cameras, restricts use of force, and mandates reporting - support
S253: prohibits ICE from enforcing immigration laws in sensitive locations such as schools, places of worship, and courts (often undocumented people find themselves ambushed by ICE at these locations) - support
Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics, and Oversight:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 9th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to jplume@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 10th.
S Resolution 141: proposes adding a line item veto to the constitution, specifically allowing the governor to make unilateral budget cuts of unlimited size without the approval of the General Assembly - oppose
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12:
House Committee on Judiciary:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 11th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to HouseJudiciary@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 12th.
Senate Committee on Labor:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 11th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to slegislation@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 12th.
THURSDAY, MAY 13:
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 12th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to slegislation@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 13th.
Senate Committee on Judiciary:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 12th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to jpbaxter@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 13th.
S834: eliminates the martial sexual assault exemptions when a victim is disabled, incapacitated, or helpless - support
S662: restricts voting access by limiting who can physically mail a mail ballot to the voter, their guardian, or an adult relative - oppose
S666: restricts voting access by requiring those voting by mail to provide proof of ID - oppose
Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government:
Requests for verbal testimony must be submitted by 4:00pm on May 12th. Written testimony may be submitted by email to slegislation@rilegislature.gov by 2:00 on the 13th.