HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING LAO NEW YEAR

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

HR 6340 formally commemorates Lao New Year Pi Mai Lao and directs sending a copy of the resolution to Temple Wat Lao in Smithfield.

05/15/2025 House read and passed

Overview

Bill Type: House Resolution (non-binding, commemorative)

Bill Number: HR 6340

Title: House Resolution Commemorating Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao): A Celebration of Renewal, Culture, and Resilience on April 14–16, 2025

Introduced: May 15, 2025

Status: Read and passed by the Rhode Island House on May 15, 2025

Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Diaz, Edwards, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, Fogarty, Fellela

Effective/Action: Acknowledges and commemorates Lao New Year; directs transmission of a copy to a Lao temple in Rhode Island

Purpose and Intent

To publicly recognize and celebrate Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) as a major cultural and spiritual event within the Lao American community.

To honor the themes of renewal, purification, resilience, and hope associated with Pi Mai Lao.

To highlight the historical experiences of Lao people, including displacement and resilience following the 1975 events, and to affirm their cultural identity within Rhode Island.

Key Provisions

Commemoration: The Rhode Island House commemorates Lao New Year Pi Mai Lao, noting it as a significant tradition observed by Lao communities worldwide.

Dates Recognized: April 14–16, 2025, as the period of the Lao New Year celebration.

Cultural Customs Highlighted: Water pouring for purification and washing away misfortune; Baci ceremonies; alms to monks; cleansing of homes and temples; sand stupas; water splashing celebrations.

Flags and Symbols: Explanation of two Lao flags—the Royal Kingdom of Laos flag (historical) and the Lao PDR flag (current nation)—as symbols of heritage and present national identity.

Community Context: References Rhode Island’s Lao American community and its contributions to civic life, education, business, arts, and culture.

Direct to Secretary of State: The Secretary of State is authorized to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to Abbot Wern Sipasouck of Temple Wat Lao in Smithfield.

Impact and Beneficiaries

Primary Beneficiaries: Lao American residents and the broader Rhode Island community, particularly the Lao Buddhist community at Temple Wat Lao in Smithfield.

Cultural Impact: Enhanced recognition of Lao heritage, increased public awareness of Pi Mai Lao, and potential for lasting cultural exchange and education without creating fiscal obligations or new laws.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Intro/Referral: Introduced May 15, 2025; referred to the House for a reading and passage.

Status as of 05/15/2025: The House has read and passed the resolution.

Nature of Action: Non-binding, symbolic acknowledgment intended to celebrate and honor cultural heritage rather than establish new policies or funding.

Bottom Line

HR 6340 is a concise, non-binding resolution that formally commemorates Lao New Year Pi Mai Lao, acknowledges its cultural significance and resilience, and directs a ceremonial transmission of the resolution to a Lao temple in Rhode Island. It serves as an official acknowledgment of the Lao American community’s contributions and heritage within the state.

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