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5/19/2025
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Senate Health and Human Services Committee to vote on overdose prevention, defibrillator bills
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will vote Thursday on the House companion bills of legislation the Senate has already approved to extend the state’s harm reduction center pilot program, equip staff at state beaches and parks with opioid antagonist kits and require automatic external defibrillators at golf courses. The committee will also meet tomorrow for a hearing on a dental insurance bill.
The committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, at the rise of the Senate session (sometime after 4:30 p.m.) in the Senate Lounge on the second floor of the State House for a hearing on:
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2025-S 0905 — Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna M. Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), this bill would prohibit dental insurers from refusing to honor directions to pay from insured, modifying benefits to be paid or from requiring providers to accept payment by virtual credit card.
On Thursday, May 22, at the rise of the Senate in the Senate Lounge the committee meets again to vote on:
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2025-H 5083A — Sponsored by Rep. Deborah A. Fellela (D-Dist. 43, Johnston), this bill would require automatic external defibrillators at public and private golf courses.
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2025-H 5171Aaa — This bill sponsored by Rep John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton) extends the state’s harm reduction center pilot program two years to March 1, 2028.
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2025-H 5273A — Sponsored by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence), this bill would require that all state beaches and parks be equipped with at least four doses of opioid antagonists, and that staff be trained to administer them.
The committee is also slated to consider advice and consent of the appointment of Dr. Atin Jindal to the Health Information Exchange Commission for a term expiring June 1, 2026. Additionally, it is scheduled to hold a hearing on:
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2025-S 1004 — This bill sponsored by Sen. Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham) requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a state plan amendment for reimbursement for health services in schools.
Anyone who wishes to submit written testimony on the bills being heard must email it to slegislation@rilegislature.gov by 3 p.m. on the day of the hearing in order for it to be provided to the members of the committee at the hearing and to be included in the meeting records.
The meetings will be televised by Capitol Television on Cox channels 15 and 61 for high definition; i3Broadband (Formerly Full Channel) channel 15; and Verizon channel 34. Senate committee hearings may also air on Channel 75 for Cox Subscribers. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv.
For more information, contact:
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for the Senate
State House Room 112
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 276-5558
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