Little drama is expected today as the House reelects Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat. But while the Senate is expected to reelect Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, attention will focus on how many senators vote “present” or for another candidate.

In November, Ruggerio beat back a leadership challenge from Senator Ryan W. Pearson, a Cumberland Democrat who had served as majority leader. And now, Ruggerio is expected to replace two Senate committee chairwomen ― Senator Dawn Euer and Senator Alana M. DiMario ― who backed Pearson.

A rift began to form in March when Pearson visited Ruggerio’s home to discuss his health and future plans, and Ruggerio, 76, who was battling cancer and missed weeks of the last legislative session, took offense. In mid-October, Ruggerio announced he was backing Senator Valarie J. Lawson to replace Pearson as majority leader, and Pearson later announced he was challenging Ruggerio for the Senate’s top spot, saying the Senate failed to function effectively and meet policy goals in Ruggerio’s absence.

Once the session gets rolling, attention will focus on whether the Assembly passes a ban on assault-style weapons.

Ruggerio, who has had an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, has long maintained that any such ban should be enacted on the federal level. But said during an interview with Globe reporters, “That is my former position.” He said Governor Daniel J. McKee is planning to put something in his proposed state budget regarding assault-style weapons.

“(Ruggerio) hasn’t come out in favor of an assault weapons ban, but it sounds like he perhaps is more open to it or at least wouldn’t block it from getting a vote,” Machado said. She noted Ruggerio previously allowed a bill protecting abortion rights to come to the floor for a vote even though he opposed it. “So it’ll be interesting to see if that ends up passing,” she said.

During an interview with Globe reporters, Shekarchi said he’s aware of six potential locations in three cities that have been pitched to Hasbro as officials try to keep the Pawtucket-based toy company in Rhode Island.

“It seems the state is sort of pulling out all the stops, trying to do anything they can to keep Hasbro in Rhode Island,” Machado said.

But, Hummel said, “If I was a betting man, I would not put money on them to stay in Rhode Island. And I think the thing that Shekarchi said in your interview and other interviews is that they haven’t even asked for (anything). I mean, if you want something, you’re going to put it out there.” He said it’s telling that Hasbro hasn’t hired a lobbyist to advocate at the State House.

As the new year begins, Rhode Island is facing a state budget deficit estimated at about $330 million.

“The question is: Are they going to make the hard decisions this year?” Hummel said. “And if history is any indicator, I don’t have confidence in that. Last year, the governor proposed a budget of approximately $13.5 billion. And what did the legislature do? Instead of saying, OK, we’ll fund it at that level, they added $250 million ― a quarter of $1 billion up and over ― and they’ve got to know that’s baked in.”

Also, the Assembly will see another push for an overhaul of the Access to Public Records Act. The legislation would make 47 changes, including a reduction in copying costs, more free search and redaction time, and the ability to waive all fees when requests are made “in the public interest.”

In speaking with Globe reporters, Shekarchi questioned whether that legislation is more of a priority for the press than the public. But Machado said, “The news media is the conduit through which we report on things like the Washington Bridge. The public certainly knows that they want to know what happened with the Washington Bridge. They might not realize that it is through the Access to Public Records Act that we obtain that information.”

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Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.