How Sen. DiPalma will shape RI's budget in 2023, and other senate committee assignments

PROVIDENCE ― Several of Newport County’s state senators were appointed to prominent committee leadership positions for the 2023 legislative session, with Sens. Dawn Euer (D-13), Lou DiPalma (D-11), and Walter Felag (D-10) all chairing important committees. All three are experienced legislators with significant previous experience serving as committee chairs in the state senate.

Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-11), who was elected to her first term in November after incumbent Jim Seveney announced his retirement, will serve on several committees in a non-leadership role as she acclimates herself to the machinations of governance at the state level. Ujifusa brings her civic experience as a former Portsmouth town council member and professional experience as a lawyer to her new role.

Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-12 Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton)

Sen. DiPalma, a Middletown resident and former town councilmember who has served his district since 2009, will serve as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance for the 2023-2024 legislative session, which held its first hearing of the year on Thursday, Jan. 12 to receive an update from the Governor’s administration on federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State programs and appropriations.

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Sen. DiPalma will no longer chair the Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight, but he is expected to bring the same noteworthy energy and focus he was known for in that role to his new assignment. He will also serve on the Committee on Education.

Sen. Dawn Euer (D-13 Newport, Jamestown)

Senator Euer, a Newport resident who has represented her district since 2017, will serve as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary for the 2023-2024 legislative session.

Senator Euer will no longer serve as chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture. She will serve as a member of both the Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight and the Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans’ Affairs.

Sen. Linda Ujifusa (D-11 Portsmouth)

Sen. Ujifusa, a Portsmouth resident and former town councilmember who was elected to her first Senate term in November’s general election, will serve as a member of the Committee on Health & Human Services and the Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans’ Affairs. Healthcare was a key issue for Sen. Ujifusa throughout her campaign, so the assignment to work on health and human services issues is a fitting one.

Sen. Walter Felag (D-10 north Tiverton, Warren)

Sen. Felag, a Warren resident who now represents north Tiverton under Rhode Island’s newly redistricted electoral maps, will continue to chair the Committee on Special Legislation & Veterans’ Affairs.

He will also serve as 2^nd vice-chair of the Committee on Finance, effectively third in command of that committee after Chairman Sen. DiPalma and 1^st Vice-chair Sen. Melissa Murray (D-24).

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: RI Senate committee assignments: Newport County senator roles