RI DISTRICT 33 NEWS
 RI State Senator Lou Raptakis - Press Conference DUI and Highway Traffic Legislation. Click/tap on the image. Source Capitol TV. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — "Lawmakers are considering legislation that would strengthen the penalties for drunk, impaired and reckless driving offenses. The Senate Judiciary Committee took up nearly two dozen different proposals Thursday aimed at making roadways safer statewide." Read the full article HERE.
Articles & Media to Reference (Source RI State Senator Lou Raptakis): 'When is enough, enough?': Lawmakers renew push to strengthen DUI penalties | Events In Providence, RI ‘When is enough, enough?’: Lawmakers renew push to strengthen DUI penalties Rhode Island Lawmakers Push to Strengthen DUI Penalties - Providence Today Rhode Island lawmakers to discuss legislation on drunk, reckless driving ‘When is enough, enough?’: Lawmakers renew push to strengthen DUI penalties | WPRI.com
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 STATE HOUSE – Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis has introduced legislation that would prohibit municipalities from increasing property taxes on any affected properties if a rent control ordinance is established.
“Rent control as a government policy has been proven time and time again to be a failure. We should learn from history because it was a disaster in the 1970’s when President Nixon attempted it and the same result is currently happening across the country in cities that were foolish enough to institute it,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich). “With the Providence City Council on the verge of making the same costly mistake, this bill is necessary to protect the rights of property owners, as well as the fragile housing market, that will be negatively affected by this foolhardy proposal." Read the full article - click/tap here.  Raptakis has introduced the measure for several years
"STATE HOUSE – Sens. Brian J. Thompson, Leonidas P. Raptakis and John P. Burke will be introducing legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage by having Rhode Island join with twenty-one other states that tie increases to the minimum wage with the Consumer Price Index (CPI)." Read the full article - click/tap here.  "Public safety needs to be protected and upheld,’ says Raptakis
STATE HOUSE – Sens. Leonidas P. Raptakis and Todd M. Patalano will be introducing two bills in January that aim to keep roadways clear and safe for motorists and pedestrians. They highlight the need for the legislation due to protesters blocking highways and the recent phenomena of “street takeovers.” Senate Majority Whip David P. Tikoian, and Sens. Peter A. Appollonio Jr., Brian J. Thompson, Andrew R. Dimitri, Robert Britto, John P. Burke and Stefano V. Famiglietti will cosponsor the legislative package." Read the full article - click/tap here.  Video Key Frame Credit: WJAR NBC-10 May 14, 2025 - WJAR: "Rhode Island lawmakers heard testimony on several gun bills on Wednesday," one being the RI Assault Weapons Ban Act (2025.) A 2nd Amendment rally took place at the RI Statehouse. Rhode Island Current: "Todd Patalano, and Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat, voiced their opposition to the bill." For more information by WJAR click/tap here or, here from the RI Current.
 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.
 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:
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.  "Fixing problem of candidates winning with less than 50% of the vote will require information, education, new report says..." "The top-two, nonpartisan primary format – used by California and Washington – also won the backing of Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, a Coventry Democrat." Read the full article at the Rhode Island Current, by Nancy Lavin.
"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
"The senior-friendly, bipartisan legislative proposal sponsors are: Sens. Anthony Phillip Deluca (R-Dist. 29, Warwick), Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-Dist. 23, Burrillville, Glocester, North Smithfield), Gordon Rogers (R-Dist. 21, Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich), Thomas Paolino (R-Dist. 17, Lincoln, North Providence, North Smithfield), Leonidas P. Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich), John Burke (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick), Mark McKenny (D-Dist. 30, Warwick), Frank Lombardi (D-Dist. 26, Cranston) and Frank Ciccone, III (D- Dist. 7, Providence, Johnston)." To read the full article by Herb Weiss click/tap here.
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State Senator Raptakis in Rhode Island's district #33 (Coventry, East & West Greenwich). Please like the Senator on Facebook. 401-397-8345
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