A special election has been scheduled to fill the upcoming vacancy in the state’s 1^st Congressional District.

The seat will become vacant when Rep. David Cicilline’s resignation takes effect on June 1.

A primary election will be held on September 5, followed by a general election on November 7.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term set to expire on January 3, 2025.

Rhode Island lawmakers introduced a bill amending the Lobbying Reform Act to apply registration and reporting requirements to individuals who lobby at the local level.

Senate Bill 2512 expands the definition of lobbying to cover individuals who lobby municipal government executives and legislative bodies as well as local fire districts.

If passed, the new law will take effect immediately.

Democrat Sam Zurier defeated Alex Cannon in a special election to serve as the next Rhode Island state Senator for District 3.

The District 3 seat became vacant after Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned earlier this year to take a job with the Biden administration.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld Rhode Island’s campaign finance law requiring the identification of donors in political advertisements.

The state law requires disclosure of independent expenditures totaling more than $1,000 to the Board of Elections with a listing of the candidate or referendum involved and all individual donors who gave more than $1,000.

The top five donors must also be listed in the ad itself.

The groups challenging the constitutionality of the law said they would appeal the issue to the Supreme Court

Rhode Island State officials scheduled a special election on November 2 for the state Senate seat in Providence District 3.

The seat became vacant when Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned to accept a position as a senior adviser in the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau.

A primary will be held on October 5, if necessary.

Both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly recessed after passing the budget for the fiscal year 2022.

The Legislature is expected to reconvene in the fall in order to address some outstanding issues.

This includes a voting package that would continue less restrictive absentee voting rules temporarily in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea announced a special election for Providence City Council Ward 15 on July 6.

If required, a special primary election is scheduled for June 8.

The city council seat is vacant after Sabina Matos was confirmed and sworn in as lieutenant governor of the state earlier this month.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Matos’s term until the end of 2022.

On March 7, an inauguration ceremony was held for Governor Daniel J. McKee.

McKee was sworn in as Rhode Island’s 76th Governor after former Gov. Raimondo resigned to join President Biden’s administration as secretary of commerce.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, current public health and safety requirements limited attendance capacity for the inauguration event.

Rhode Island lawmakers announced a statewide special election for March 2.

The special election relates to bond proposals seeking voter approval to borrow $400 million related to education, green infrastructure, transportation, housing, and arts funding.

Voters have the option for mail-in ballots, early voting in-person, or voting in-person on the day of the election.

In a close vote, Rhode Island voters approved Question 1, a resolution to change the state name.

The resolution removes the term “and Providence Plantations” from the official state name referenced in the Preamble, Article III, and Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution.

The governor and several political leaders have previously removed the term from official state and local documents over the summer.

On June 18, both chambers of the General Assembly recessed after passing the current fiscal year supplemental budget.

The bill distributed funding received from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to cover revenue losses for the fiscal year ending on June 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawmakers are expected to return to session this summer to address the budget for the 2021 fiscal year after federal action for additional state relief is determined.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 8 to June 12.

In addition, the Joint Legislative COVID-19 Emergency Spending Task Force is expected to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

The meeting will be televised and live streamed online here.

Both chambers of the General Assembly are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 16.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has canceled legislative sessions for the week of June 1 to June 5.

Committee hearings have been scheduled in both chambers of the General Assembly and will be live streamed at www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV.

During this time, the State House building will remain closed.

Members of the public wishing to testify on any of the matters before the committees may submit written testimony.

The General Assembly is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 9.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly has extended the delay of the legislative session.

House and Senate legislative sessions have been canceled for the week of May 25 to May 29.

Three Senate Committees are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, May 26, Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28.

The House Finance Committee is also expected to meet during the week and the schedule will be announced at a later date.

The State House building remains closed to the public due to the emergency.

The full General Assembly is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 2.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.