Since January 2025, the cruel Trump administration has made the work of State legislators more urgent and more important. Mass deportation campaigns in LA, Chicago, and Minnesota highlighted the role that state legislators can play in protecting citizens from federal overreach by passing protected spaces acts and allowing citizens to sue federal agents in state courts.

The November SNAP cuts revealed how critical it is to invest in state funding of SNAP and expand our food banks’ capacity to serve those no longer eligible for benefits. The war in Iran has increased the cost of everyday necessities like groceries and gas, stretching already strained household budgets. The erosion of the Voting Rights Act and subsequent rapid fire map produced by states with a history of racist voter suppression exposed a vision for a representative democracy still unrealized.

This year, Rhode Island legislators had the duty to rise to the level of leadership this moment demands.

• Trump’s cruelty demanded bigger budgets, so Rhode Island legislators passed a Millionaire’s Tax.

• ICE terrorized cities across the country and killed two Americans and imprisoned countless families in inhumane detention centers, so as co-chair of the RIBLIA Caucus I led a package of 7 bills to protect all Rhode Islanders. Three were codified into state law this year.

• Tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders were unsure they would receive November SNAP benefits days into the month, so I prioritized funding the RI Food Bank and an Urban and Small farm bill to strengthen local food systems. Both were implemented.

These are wins I am immensely proud of. But there is more work to be done.

Attacks on the trans and broader LGBTQ+ community went essentially unanswered. No new protections as Rhode Island Hospital faces attacks from the 5th Circuit in Texas and organizations like RI Pride are at risk of losing over $160,000 in funds to keep LGBTQ+ youth housed.

The Millionaires Tax left millions of dollars on the table in two ways, 1) by making it a tax on income over $1 million, instead of the proposal for taxable income $675,000 and 2) implementing the policy as a 1% increase over three years, instead of restoring the tax that was cut in 2010, essentially extending the 16 year tax relief of rich people for another 2 years.

Below are more highlights of my wins this session

Legislative Wrap Up and Celebration

Co-Chair of the RIBLIA Caucus

• 364 (Acosta | Felix): Protects Rhode Islanders from deportation for minor offenses by decreasing the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor from 365 to 364 days of incarceration.

• RI Federal Constitution Defense Act (Ciccone | Potter): Protects Rhode Islanders by permitting them to sue federal officials, like ICE, who violate someone’s federal constitutional rights in RI.

• Protect Our Courts Act (Kallman | Batista): Protects Rhode Islanders attending court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant.

Signed Into Law

Small and Urban Farms

• https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2827.pdf

Placed in the Budget

Food Bank Funding

• 2237 https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2237.pdf

Passed the Senate but never received a House Vote

• 2269 Sub A Notice of Violation https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2269A.pdf

• 2264 Cool and Warming Centers

  • https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2264.pdf

• 2158 Receipts from landlords

  • https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3158A.pdf

• 2163 no evictions for 18-21 Year olds

  • https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3163A.pdf

Reading

• Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers

• Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Watching

• Lost Season 3. I just started the third season for the first time! What a wild ride.

Listening

• Strict Scrutiny podcast

• Up First

• Consider This

• The Read

• The Intercept Briefing

At 18, Brown quickly became my first home away from home. I stayed up for late nights with my rugby teammates, I took late night walks to Jo’s, I worked the 5:15 am shift at the Nelson, I studied in the Sci-Li. I had classes in Barus and Holley.

This year has forever shattered my sense of safety. From the tragic shootings in Minnesota that claimed Melissa Hortman and her husband’s lives, and injured Senator Hoffman and his family, to the shooting in my city at my alma mater. These tragic and consistent crimes brought on by the prevalence of guns in our communities are a constant source of worry and dread. Too many of us live with “when” not “if” playing on repeat in the back of our minds.

As an elected official, I have supported or co-sponsored every piece of gun safety legislation that has come my way. But our country lags behind the rest of the global community. For decades, strong state laws in a country weak on firearms regulation has proven to only result in more mass shootings than there are days in the year.

In the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting in Australia, the country is already talking about stricter gun laws. Here, leaders are silent on how we will respond and promise a gun violence-free future.

I will continue to fight for tougher gun laws here in Rhode Island. We deserve better. We demand better.

Brown University Shooting Updates

I’m writing to provide updates and new information from yesterday’s press conference. Tonight, the Providence Police and the FBI have released the following:

• Video 1

• Video 2

• Photo 1

Last night, the Mayor also shared an update on the condition of those still hospitalized at the press conference.

My heart continues to break for the friends and loved ones of the two victims who were identified, Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov.

Please continue to only share official information and details. To date, over 200 actionable tips have been submitted, and every piece of information is helping investigators.

As a reminder, this remains an active investigation and you can continue to submit any relevant information, including video or photos, to the Providence Police tip line at 401-272-3121 or through the FBI tip line.

Other Updates

Providence Public Schools cancelled afterschool activities and events and the City has postponed the Region 1 School Board Forum and other scheduled events to ensure that any and all officers are available to assist with efforts.

Providence has two opt-in communication and alert systems, 311 and CodeRED. I recently shared information on how to register for both systems. You MUST opt-in for calls, texts, and emails in order to receive 311 alerts. CodeRED is an app that you can download to your smart devices.

How to create a 311 account:

CodeRED one-pager: https://www.providenceri.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/English-AllHazard-Awareness-Sheet.pdf

Resources

Family Service of Rhode Island is providing immediate emotional support and counseling for anyone who has been affected by this tragedy by 401-854-6678 or in-person 55 Hope Street, Providence (drop-in counseling and community support services). Information on other services is updated on the city’s website.

How to Help

• Make a Financial Contribution to Support Affected Students: Brown University has established a Student Emergency Support Fund that can provide support for all students financially impacted by this tragedy. People who would like to contribute are encouraged to donate online here: https://go.brown.edu/StudentEmergencySupportFund

• Donate Blood: The Rhode Island Blood Center has extended hours at some locations to accept blood donations. Find the hours for a nearby location at

https://www.ribc.org/