WBOB Original Reads

Bills on Foreclosure, Voting, Term Limits to Be Heard

2/7/2015

The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold hearings Tuesday on bills concerning term limits for legislators, foreclosure, voting addresses of prisoners and other matters.

The committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Feb. 10th on the first floor of the State House. Among the bills on its agenda are:

·         2015-H 5067 – This bill sponsored by Majority Whip John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) would require banks to notify municipal clerks of foreclosures and to maintain property in the event it becomes vacant during the foreclosure process.

·         2015-H 5191 – Sponsored by Rep. Michael A. Morin (D-Dist. 49, Woonsocket), this bill imposes a penalty upon banks for failing to promptly record foreclosure deeds and pay taxes.

·         2015-H 5031 – This bill sponsored by John J. Lombardi (D-Dist. 8, Providence) would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would, if approved by voters, change legislative terms from two years to four, and impose a three-term limit.

·         2015-H 5032 – Also sponsored by Representative Lombardi, this bill would prohibit lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the General Assembly from Jan. 1 through July 1 of each legislative session.

·         2015-H 5071 – This bill sponsored by Rep. Doreen Costa (R-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) would amend the statute relating to compliance with the open meetings law by referring to electronic filing rather than newspaper publication.

·         2015-H 5124 – Sponsored by Rep. Helio Melo (D-Dist. 64, East Providence), this bill would prohibit candidates for state and local office from running for office if they have outstanding campaign reports or fines.

·         2015-H 5246 – This bill sponsored by Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-Dist. 55, North Providence) would enable the General Assembly to fill a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor.

·         2015-H 5155 – This bill sponsored by Rep. Anastasia Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence) would establish a process to ensure those in government custody are counted at their home addresses, not their place of incarceration, for the purposes of redistricting.