Rep. Edith Ajello

Maddy summaryHR 7713 is a Rhode Island House resolution expressing condolences on the passing of Mary Magavern Worrell, a former teacher, landscape architect, and community volunteer known for her work with St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and the Southside Community Land Trust. Passed on February 11, 2026, the resolution directs the Secretary of State to transmit a certified copy to her husband, Rick Worrell, and family. It does not create new laws or policies but formally honors her life and contributions to Providence and Rhode Island. The resolution is purely commemorative and symbolic.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a substantive bill. It formally designates February 20, 2026, as "National Caregivers Day" within Rhode Island to recognize caregivers. The resolution cites the national observance established by PAHHHA and highlights statistics about family caregivers' time commitments, but creates no new laws or funding. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to PAHHHA.

Maddy summaryHB 7044 establishes an 11-member committee to develop regulations for homeless shelters in Rhode Island. The committee, including homeless individuals, advocates, shelter providers, and housing officials, will draft standards covering access policies, residents' rights, health and safety protocols, and emergency operations. These regulations will ensure shelters provide non-discriminatory services, prohibit fees, protect privacy, and maintain safe environments for residents. The bill does not immediately implement rules but creates a process for developing them through the committee's recommendations.

Establishes rules and procedures for licensing emergency shelters for homeless persons, including setting minimum standards and prohibiting the charging of fees to the residents.

Maddy summaryHB 7353 amends Rhode Island's 2015 Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act to require police departments to collect detailed data during traffic stops (including officer-perceived race/ethnicity, stop reasons, and outcomes) and submit it monthly to the Department of Transportation's Office of Highway Safety. It mandates an annual external study analyzing this data for racial disparities in traffic stops and searches, to be conducted by a qualified independent agency chosen by the Office of Highway Safety. The study's findings, along with quarterly public summary reports showing racial and demographic breakdowns of stops, must be released annually. This directly affects all Rhode Island municipal police departments and the state police, requiring them to implement new data collection and reporting procedures. The law aims to provide transparent, data-driven insights into policing practices without speculating on outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 10, 2026, as "211 Day" in Rhode Island to honor United Way 211's 24/7 service connecting residents to health, housing, food, and emergency resources. It recognizes United Way 211's role since 2007 in handling nearly 100,000 requests in 2025 and supporting public emergencies. The resolution is symbolic - no new policies or funding are created - and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to United Way and partners. It directly honors United Way 211 and its community collaborators, not specific individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating February 7-14, 2026, as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" in Rhode Island. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the impact of congenital heart defects - such as septal defects or hypoplastic left heart syndrome - on newborns and families. The resolution urges Rhode Island citizens to observe the week and acknowledges medical efforts to improve outcomes for affected children. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact beyond raising awareness.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a law. It formally recognizes February 2026 as "National Children's Dental Health Month" in Rhode Island. The resolution encourages all residents to support oral health education and preventive care for children, citing the importance of early dental visits and addressing barriers to access. It has no new requirements or funding; it simply directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Rhode Island Dental Association.

Commencing July 1, 2026, this act eliminates the provision of this section that requires new applicants for employment under this section to pay the expense for their criminal background checks.

Amends the House Rules to enable any member to have up to three (3) bills that are held for further study either substituted in committee or allowed to have a committee vote for placement on the floor calendar exclusively at the discretion of the Speaker.