Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s House Judiciary Committee broke a longstanding standoff on abortion-related bills Tuesday by narrowly approving a measure to codify Roe vs. Wade in the state.

The 9 to 7 vote to advance the bill to the full House on Thursday followed more than an hour of debate among committee members.

Judiciary Chairman Robert Craven (D-North Kingstown) began the committee meeting by describing the legislation as a strict codification of Roe vs. Wade. Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence) disagreed, expressing concern that the measure introduced by Rep. Anastasia Williams (D-Providence) would mark an expansion of abortion rights.

Voting in favor of the bill: Democrats Craven; Reps. Evan Shanley of TOWN, Carol McEntee of South Kingstown, John Edwards of Tiverton, Julie Casimiro of North Kingstown, Joseph Almeida of Providence, Daniel McKiernan of Providence, and James Jackson of West Warwick.

Read more: https://thepublicsradio.org/article/ri-house-judiciary-committee-moves-abortion-bill-to-full-house-vote