RI STATE SENATOR RAPTAKIS - DISTRICT #33
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RI DISTRICT 33 NEWS

Newsroom - Senator Lou Raptakis

Raptakis Bill: Seeks Felony Charges for Organized Shoplifting

4/1/2025

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Shoplifting
Credit: Rhode Island Current - Article by Christopher Shea and Photo by Michael Salerno
Photo Taken Inside Providence Place Mail at Boscov's Department Store: "Those accused of working together to steal from retailers in Rhode Island could face felony charges under legislation under consideration in the state Senate. The bill sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis would impose up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if two or more people are found guilty (the same punishment given to a repeat offender who has taken over $100 worth of merchandise.)" Read or view the full news story at one of these resources: Rhode Island Current, Yahoo News, and WPRI.

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Hobey Baker Award recipients

4/1/2025

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Hobey Baker Award
Credit: Capital TV - Senate Communications Office
RI Senate, Capital TV: State Senator Lou Raptakis with the Hobey Baker Award recipients. Congrats! About the award: Click/Tap Here
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Rep. Serpa/Sen. Raptakis primary voting bill signed into law

9/4/2024

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Sen. Raptakis
"WEST WARWICK, RI — At West Warwick Town Hall on Wednesday, Governor Dan McKee was joined by Secretary of State Gregg Amore and bill sponsors Representative Patricia Serpa (D-District 27) and Senator Leonidas Raptakis (D-District 33) for a ceremonial bill signing of 2418A /7662, which allow unaffiliated voters to remain unaffiliated after participating in a party primary. The bills also codify an unaffiliated voter’s right to participate in a primary of their choosing even when they may have voted in a different party’s primary previously."

Read the press release at RI General Assembly

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Sen. Raptakis praises Johnson’s Pond ruling returning ownership back to Coventry

6/28/2024

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Johnson's PondJohnson's Pond Credit: Channel 10 News
"STATE HOUSE – Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis is praising today’s court ruling affirming the town’s condemnation of the pond that transfers ownership of Johnson’s Pond to the residents of Coventry. “This has been a long time coming and the residents of Johnson’s Pond and Coventry will no longer by harassed and victimized by the environmental terrorism that has devastated the pond and the community for too long.  Justice was truly served this morning and this ruling is a huge victory for everyone who has made wonderful and lasting memories on this beloved natural resource,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich). Senator Raptakis has been fighting for the property rights of residents who live on Johnson’s Pond and the environmental health of the pond for several years."

View the press release at: RI General Assembly

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Governor signs bill allowing independent voters to automatically disaffiliate after primary voting

6/26/2024

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2024 Election
"STATE HOUSE — Gov. Dan McKee has signed legislation introduced by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa and Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis allowing independent voters in primary elections to automatically disaffiliate. Under previous law, when a voter who was not affiliated with any political party chose to vote in a party primary, that voter was automatically registered as being affiliated with that party. Those voters couldchoose to disaffiliate immediately by filling out a form. The new law (2024-H 7662, 2024-S 2418A) makes that disaffiliation automatic for all independent voters."

Read the complete press release at: RI General Assembly


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LEOBOR reform, safe storage bills on track to become law

6/6/2024

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RI Senate 2024
Source: WPRI's Website
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI): "Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights - clears the Senate. LEOBOR sets the rules for police officers who are investigated for misconduct, including what information is and isn’t shareable during the disciplinary process. This bill also heads to McKee for a signature.

These are the proposed reforms:
  • Expand the panel for a hearing to five members comprised of three randomly selected officers, an attorney who’s in good standing, and a retired judge who is appointed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s chief justice.
  • Let police chiefs publicly comment on officers looking at disciplinary action, as well as release video evidence.
  • Extend the length of an officer’s suspension.

Automatic Disaffiliation for Unaffiliated Primary Voters
...The third and final bill, which also passed the Senate, would allow unaffiliated voters who vote in a primary election to stay that way. If an unaffiliated voter casts a ballot in a primary, they automatically become affiliated with that party. They can disaffiliate by either updating their information online or filling out a form. This bill, introduced by state Rep. Patricia Serpa and state Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, would remove that hurdle." For the complete story by WPRI click/tap here.
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"When is Enough Enough?"

2/2/2024

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DUI Laws - Article by WPRI
Photo/Content Credit: WPRI


"Rhode Island lawmakers and advocates took to Smith Hill Thursday night to throw their support behind a series of bills that would strengthen the penalties for those who drink and drive...

...RI State Senator Lou Raptakis’ proposals include one that would extend Rhode Island’s “lookback” period from five to 10 years, as well as another that would allow officers to temporarily confiscate the license plate of repeat offenders."  Read the full story by Sarah Doiron at WPRI Providence.

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Discussion: ongoing controversy between the residents and the Johnson’s Pond owner

6/9/2023

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Lou Raptakis / Dan Yorke
Credit: Video Captures/Key Frames "Dan Yorke State of Mind." Click/tap on image, links to the live recorded video.
WPRI - Fox Providence: "Senator Lou Raptakis, (D) District 33 and Marc Lemoi, President of Johnson’s Pond Civic Association join Dan Yorke to discuss the ongoing controversy between residents and Johnson’s Pond owner Socia Holdings LLC. Socia controls the water flow which affects use of the pond and the environment." See the full interview with RI State Senator Lou Raptakis on Dan York State of Mind.
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The State of Rhode Island Has a Big "Drunken Driving" Problem

5/30/2023

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Car Accident - Drunken Drivers
"Families, law enforcement ask General Assembly to strengthen impaired driving laws"
Rhode Island Current

"PROVIDENCE — Kristine Bouthillier of West Warwick does not want to be in the spotlight. She just wants her son’s life to return to the way it used to be.

She knows that is impossible. So instead, Bouthillier was standing at a podium in Senate Judiciary room 313 at the Rhode Island State House on May 25. She told her listeners about the night in the winter of 2022 when her then 17-year-old son, Kevin MacDonald, and his best friend Matt Dennison, also 17, were hit by an alleged drunken driver on Route 102 in Exeter while returning from a hockey game and going to another one...

...One Bill, sponsored by Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, would extend the limit on prior offenses that police take into consideration when charging an impaired driver with a more serious repeat offense from five to 10 years. Companion legislation is sponsored in the House by Rep. Patricia Serpa, a West Warwick Democrat." Read the full story by Christopher Shea at Rhode Island Current
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Sen. Raptakis Attends Memorial Day Remembrance at Rhode Island's American Heritage Park

5/29/2023

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American Heritage Park - Sen Raptakis
American Heritage Park - 05/29/23
Images and Story by Stephen Elmasian, Courtesy of RI State Senator David Tikoian
"A nice gathering of people assembled around Armenian Heritage Park this morning under a bright sunny sky to honor those that first arrived here in Rhode Island and especially the old mill section of Providence's Smith Hill.

Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian and Arch Priest Gomidas Baghsarian, both of Sts. Vartanantz Church, provided the spiritual guidance and Joanne Mouradjian sang the appropriate songs. The Homenetmen scouts served as the honor guard and sang "Mer Hairenik". State Senators David Tikoian and Leonidas Raptakis took turns remembering the significance of events such as these on Memorial Day and all year long.

Sincerest appreciation to Martha Aramian who had this foresight (and used her personal resources) to have this monument remain a tribute to those who were so very challenged. Some went back to fight with the French as Gamavors (Volunteers). Many sent their first born to fight in World War 2. This was their new Armenia. Their children went on to become doctors and lawyers, engineers and teachers, judges and politicians. They were law-abiding citizens, thrilled to have a second chance at life.

As we face another ethnic cleansing today in Artsakh, how many of these poor people who have been under an illegal blockade since before Christmas would go on some day to greatness. We may never know. They came from Palou and Sepastia, from Kharpet and Dickrangert, from Trebizond on the Black Sea and Smyrna on the Mediterranean. The Aramian, Ragan and Micolucci families ask for your prayers for their gravely ill dear cousin Dianne Apkarian, sister of Cheryl who usually rings the bell after each name is read. We read all of the names that appear here. These women and men are the reason many of us even exist.  Stop by the next time you are in the area and read the names on the granite stones. These people, many of whom marched through the Syrian Desert, leaving their newborns and sick and elderly behind, put down a strong foundation for us to build on.

Also present was the honorable Aram Garabedian, Smith Hill native, who has championed our causes throughout his entire life. Paul Bedrosian served as the sound technician. Refreshments followed nearby in the Taco Bell parking lot." Article by and thanks to, Steve Elmasian, Men's Club of Sts. Vartanantz Church
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©2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
SENATOR LEONIDAS P. RAPTAKIS
2080 NOOSENECK HILL RD, COVENTRY, RI  02816

DISTRICT 33: COVENTRY • WEST GREENWICH


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