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SR 966

SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Sam Bell and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island Senate SR 966 formally expresses support for the LGBTQIA+ community, signaling the state's commitment to civil rights and nondiscrimination; symbolic, not law.

04/10/2025 Senate read and passed
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Bill Summary · SR 966

Summary: Rhode Island Senate Resolution SR 966 — Expressing Support for the LGBTQIA+ Community

Overview

  • Type: Senate Resolution (non-binding expression of support)
  • Bill Number: SR 966
  • Title: Senate Resolution Expressing Support for the LGBTQIA+ Community
  • Introduced: April 10, 2025
  • Status: Senate read and passed on April 10, 2025
  • Class/Format: Resolution (not a statute or appropriation)
  • Primary authors: Senators Mack, Murray, Kallman, Pearson, Felag, Ujifusa, Urso, Lauria, DiMario, and Bell
  • Legislative actions: Referred to “Recommended for Immediate Consideration”; subsequently read and passed by the Senate on the same day (April 10, 2025)

Purpose and Intent

  • Articulates solidarity with Rhode Island’s LGBTQIA+ community and reaffirms the state’s commitment to civil rights, inclusion, and freedom from discrimination.
  • Acknowledges ongoing harassment and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ people locally, nationally, and internationally.
  • Highlights the special concerns of transgender and nonbinary Rhode Islanders, emphasizing the state’s duty to protect dignity and ensure full access to public life.
  • Recognizes disparities affecting LGBTQIA+ people, particularly transgender women of color, in health, housing, and criminal justice, and notes the heightened vulnerability to violence.
  • Asserts the right of every individual to love freely and live openly as who they are.

Key Provisions

  • Declaration: The Rhode Island Senate proclaims its solidarity with and expresses support for the state's LGBTQIA+ community.
  • Transmission directive: The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of the resolution to the Governor (Daniel McKee) of Rhode Island.
  • Nature of effect: As a resolution, it serves as an official, symbolic expression of support and does not create new rights, obligations, or funding.

Affected Parties and Stakeholders

  • LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities within Rhode Island.
  • General public and stakeholders seeking policymakers’ alignment with LGBTQIA+ civil rights and protections.
  • Rhode Island state government, including the Governor and the Secretary of State, who facilitate the formal transmission of the resolution.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: April 10, 2025
  • Referred for immediate consideration: Indicates prioritization for quick action
  • Senate action: Read and passed on April 10, 2025
  • Next steps: Transmission to the Governor; does not require enactment into statute

Potential Impact

  • Symbolic and political signal of ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ rights within Rhode Island.
  • May influence public discourse, advocacy efforts, and policy climate in favor of nondiscrimination and civil rights protections.
  • Serves as a formal communicative tool to accompany future policy proposals or legislation related to LGBTQIA+ rights.

Administrative Details

  • Legislative Code: LC002279
  • Location: Rhode Island General Assembly, January Session, A.D. 2025
  • Page/Format: LC002279 - Page 2 of 2 (internal reference)

This summary captures the core purpose, provisions, and potential impact of SR 966 as presented in the bill text and status timeline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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