PORTSMOUTH — If you’ve been wondering what your local legislators have been busy with in the General Assembly lately, here’s a guide.

House OKs Cortvriend bill on state’s energy codes

The R.I. House of Representatives this week approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend to protect the state’s energy codes from any potential rollbacks pushed by the current federal administration.

Rhode Island was the first state in the nation to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for new and renovated buildings, which is expected to reduce buildings’ energy usage by 8 to 12 percent and requires “electric readiness,” ensuring that building owners can easily add electric vehicle charging, solar, heat pumps and other technologies later on.

The legislation (2025-H 5486) would place a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 IECC until Jan. 1, 2030, unless they are approved by the General Assembly.

There is significant concern among environmental advocates, the building trade and others that the current administration in Washington, along with like-minded state and local officials, could use their influence to roll back the significant advances in energy conservation included in the 2024 codes when the next set is released in 2027.

“The 2024 energy conservation codes were developed collaboratively and have been hailed as an excellent advancement by environmentalists and builders alike. They were a significant step forward over the previous codes, providing energy savings without adding costs,” said Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown). “Given the efforts in Washington to slash, among other things, protections for the climate and environment, Rhode Island should take steps to protect our energy conservation codes from any meddling, so we continue to make gains toward our carbon reduction goals and resilience.”

Ujifusa, McGaw bill protects from step therapy protocols

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. Michelle McGaw are sponsoring legislation to rein in so-called step therapy protocols used by health insurance companies that can delay or prevent patients from getting tests, procedures and drugs ordered by their physicians. 

Step therapy, also known as “fail first” therapy, is a health insurance practice that requires patients to try less expensive treatments before more costly ones are covered. Although insurers claim step therapy helps patients and manages costs, it can also delay, disrupt and even prevent patients’ access to medically necessary health care and restrict patients from getting the care their doctors ordered.

The legislation (2025-S 0116, 2025-H 5119) introduced by Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol) and McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) provides that insurers cannot use step therapy if the step required is: contraindicated by the patient’s other drugs or therapies expected to cause an adverse reaction; has been tried and found ineffective or is expected to be ineffective; will delay or prevent medically necessary care; or will disrupt the patient’s current effective drug regimen.

“These seem so common sense, it is hard to believe we must pass a law to prohibit insurers from requiring it, but unfortunately, we do,” said Ujifusa.

Added McGaw, who works as a licensed pharmacist, “The bill sets parameters around step therapy to be sure that our health care providers have greater agency in determining what is most appropriate for patients.”

During a previous hearing on the bill, Representative McGaw shared the story of a family member who needed surgery, but was required to go through a litany of step therapy options before surgery would be approved, causing months of pain, suffering, added costs and missed work, only to ultimately require surgery after all. 

Ujifusa and McGaw urge patients and their advocates to submit testimony by email as soon as possible with the subject line “In support of S0116 and H5119,” describing their reason for supporting the bills, including any personal challenges with step therapy. Testimony can be sent to the Senate HHS Committee at SLegislation@rilegislature.gov and to the House HHS Committee at HouseHealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov.

(Note: McGaw is the wife of Jim McGaw, editor of The Portsmouth Times.) 

Ujifusa bill would cap physical therapy copays

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. David A. Bennett are sponsoring legislation that would prevent patients from paying more for their physical therapy copay than they would for an office visit to a primary care doctor.

“Virtually every constituent I know has needed physical therapy or told me they had a close friend or family member that needed it,” said Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11 Portsmouth, Bristol). “It is medically necessary care that should not be blocked by high costs imposed by health insurance corporations.”

Copays for physical therapy average $30 per visit and can go as high as $75. Higher copays for physical therapy can hit patients especially hard because treatment usually involves many visits in quick succession. A typical plan for full recovery is two visits a week for at least four weeks, the cost of which creates a barrier for many Rhode Islanders, especially seniors on fixed incomes.

The bill (2025-S 0051, 2025-5082) prohibits insurance plans from charging higher copays for physical therapy than they charge for primary care physician visits. If passed, Rhode Island will join multiple states seeking to lower physical therapy costs.

When a patient cannot complete a course of physical therapy treatment or declines it altogether because of cost, they suffer worse short- and long-term outcomes, often leading to loss of function and the need for more acute and invasive care that costs the patient more and contributes to an overburdened medical system.

“There is undisputed evidence that PT visits can help avoid prescription painkillers, surgery, hospitalizations and future injuries,” said Ujifusa. “In addition to saving money for the patient, this bill saves money for everyone involved with the patient – from family caregivers to employers to providers. It is a necessary bill that needs to pass.”

McGaw’s COVID legislation moves forward in Assembly

The R.I. House of Representatives recently approved legislation by Rep. Michelle McGaw (District 71) that, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, will ensure that pharmacists in the Ocean State will continue to be able to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children, regardless of any changes in federal vaccination policy.

McGaw introduced the bill (2025-H 5427) on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Health. It comes amid fears that federal guidelines on the vaccination of minors could change under the current federal administration.

“Allowing people, including children, to receive routine vaccinations at pharmacies is safe and increases the likelihood that they will get them,” said McGaw, who works as a consultant pharmacist serving the long-term care community. “Particularly given Rhode Island’s shortage of primary care physicians, we should ensure (that) access to vaccines at pharmacies is protected in Rhode Island, so anyone and everyone can get their vaccines when they need them.”

 Ujifusa, McGaw bills would modernize old internet laws

Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa and Rep. Michelle McGaw have introduced legislation to update Rhode Island’s 16-year-old broadband policy. The new bill (2025-S 0377, 2025-H 5817) aims to improve transparency and accountability among internet service providers (ISPs) in the state.

“Both Rep. McGaw and I have received numerous complaints from residents and business owners about lack of choice, poor service, high prices, slow speeds and frequent outages,” said Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol).

Rhode Island’s law on internet service providers was enacted in 2009. “I was shocked to learn how extensively this 16-year-old Rhode Island law restricts Rhode Island from implementing regulations, including management of fees, for internet service providers,” said McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton).

Ujifusa added, “Apparently, the law was drafted to increase ISP competition and improve services, but given today’s unserved and underserved RI communities and the virtual monopoly Cox has in some areas, the law clearly needs revising.”

In 2023, the federal government allocated $108.7 million to Rhode Island through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This funding was meant to expand broadband access, with the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation designated to manage the distribution.

As part of the BEAD program, R.I. Commerce began a mapping process to identify unserved and underserved areas. Despite invitations, Cox did not engage in the public planning process or attend any of the meetings. In September 2024, however, Cox filed a lawsuit against R.I. Commerce, claiming the state’s broadband maps were inaccurate. In January 2025, the two parties resolved their dispute, but not before the lawsuit delayed broadband expansion efforts and cost the state significant resources.

Noted Ujifusa, “Cox’s actions highlight the dangers of a system that allows ISPs to do whatever they want.” Other states, such as California, New York, and Washington, have shown that ISP oversight can positively impact internet access, competition, service quality, reliability and affordability, she said.

The new legislation would allow the state to collect essential broadband data, including mapping internet availability, speeds, and service disruptions.

“This bill allows the Commerce Corporation to collect and use the data to recommend a regulatory framework that better meets the needs of the people and businesses of Rhode Island,” McGaw said.