Rep. David Morales: Legislative Achievements

Dear Neighbors,

Serving as our community's State Representative over the last several years has been an absolute honor and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Throughout my tenure, I've been proud to fight in support of laws that benefit our working families, seniors, students, young people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the Mt. Pleasant, Valley, and Elmhurst neighborhoods.

Below is a brief summary of the laws and budget initiatives that I have proudly supported:

Protecting and Expanding Healthcare:

Capped the Monthly out-of-pocket expenses for Insulin at $40
Capped the Monthly out-of-pocket expenses for Specialty Prescription Drugs at $150
Required that COVID-19 Vaccinations, Testing, & Treatment always be free of costs
Expanded ‘Telemedicine’ for Medicaid and Private Insurance Patients
Prohibited Gender Discrimination in Health Insurance Coverage
Strengthened staffing standards in Nursing Homes to improve resident care
Established Medicaid Coverage for Doula Services
Guaranteed Medicaid coverage to every lower-income child in the state
Expanded Medicaid coverage to all new mothers, up to 12 months postpartum
Increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates for Dental Services to be aligned with Massachusetts (for the first time since the mid-1990s)
Increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates for Labor & Delivery Services by 20%
Increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric providers so they are equal to the primary care rates paid by Medicare
Increased the reimbursement rates for agencies providing: Home-Based Therapeutic Services, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Personal Assistance Services, Respite Services, Personal Care Aide Services for Seniors, and Homemaker Services
Require private health insurance to cover biomarker testing services to help cancer patients understand the most effective course of treatment
Invested $4 million to the RI Free Clinic which provides free medical and preventative care services to low-income adults that lack health insurance (over 4,500 patients are served each year)

Labor Rights:

Pathway to a $15 Minimum Wage by 2025
Established the strongest Whistleblower Labor protections in the country, further protecting workers who report workplace violations or misconduct
Expanded Paid Sick Leave for Caregivers
Equal Pay for All People
Prohibit employers from keeping any of the tips earned by workers
Repealed a wrongful law that allowed employers to pay workers with disabilities below the minimum wage

Housing Investments:

Established an Annual Funding Stream for ‘Affordable’ and ‘Low-to-Moderate Income’ Housing
Prohibited 'Source of Income' Discrimination for Housing

Established the 'Pay for Success' Program focused on providing wraparound services to unhoused people
Prohibited LGBTQ+ Discrimination for Housing

Improving the K-12 Education Experience:

Provision of free Feminine Hygiene Products in all Public Schools
Expanded access to English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Language Learner (ELL) Teaching Certifications
Require that all public High School Students demonstrate their knowledge of American Civics
Require African Heritage History courses in all public elementary and secondary schools

Investments in Higher Education:

Established Tuition-Free Community College for Graduating High School Students through the RI Promise Scholarship
In-State Tuition for all RI Students at our State Colleges and Universities, regardless of Immigration Status
Increased funding for Rhode Island College (RIC)

Other Important Laws and Budget Items:

Provision of Single Stall Gender-Neutral Restrooms in Public Buildings
Expanded accessibility to Child Care by capping Co-Payments
Continued Elimination of the Car Tax by 2023
Secured a $5,000 grant for our Mt. Pleasant Community Library