Rhode Island's 2026 legislative session is underway in Providence with lawmakers ready to take on the budget, healthcare, education, transportation and public safety.
As the session began on Tuesday both the House and Senate acknowledged the deadly Brown University shooting, and they passed a resolution honoring the victims and commending first responders.
Governor Dan McKee will deliver his 2026 State of the State address on January 13th, outlining his vision for the year ahead, focusing on affordability, creating good-paying jobs and building a bright future for Rhode Island's children.
Meantime, the state has agreed to allow protesters to access the State House Rotunda before next week's State of the State Address.
The decision to keep the rotunda open follows lawsuit filed by ACLU attorneys on behalf of activists who say they were denied access to the rotunda and threatened with arrest before last January's address.
ACLU of Rhode Island's executive director Steven Brown says for more than 50 years, the State House Rotunda has served as an "indispensable space for the exercise of First Amendment rights" and the organization looks forward to seeing it once again serve that crucial function.
(Photo: Rhode Island General Assembly)