House to vote on law enforcement bill of rights, free lunches for public school students

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Officials will vote on several bills at the state house today, including the law enforcement bill of rights.

The House Judiciary Committee will consider an amendment to the due process accountability and transparency act; suggesting adding five members to the committee, instead of three.

The committee is in charge of meeting on complaints against law enforcement officers, but the bill will also include that the committee cannot be employed by the same agency of an officer under investigation.

Today at the State House, the House Labor Committee will vote on state social worker’s hiring bill.

The bill aims to address the state’s difficulty hiring social workers, and would eliminate waiting periods for acceptance responses for successful candidates.

It also requires that all qualified candidates’ names be sent to the hiring agency, while expanding the Department of Children, Youth, and Families Pilot hiring program to be expanded through March of 2026.

Meanwhile, the House Finance Committee will vote on a bills surrounding schools. One bill will consider state lawmakers to require free breakfast and lunches to be provided for all elementary and secondary school students attending public schools.

Another bill, only heard today, would fund the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, which would allow eligible individuals to get rid of student loan debt.

Also today, lawmakers will also kickoff a tax millionaire’s campaign.

The Revenue for Rhode Islanders Coalition say they will raise $126 million by adding millionaires tax, from 5.99 percent to 8.99 percent on adjusted gross income above one million dollars.

You can watch the bills be voted on tonight by clicking here.