Maddy summaryHB 5130 requires law enforcement agencies to submit crime guns (firearms used in or suspected of being used in a crime) and test-fired cartridge cases to the state crime laboratory or a certified agency for entry into the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). This policy change directly affects police departments and crime labs by mandating a standardized procedure for processing ballistic evidence from gun crimes. The bill defines key terms like "crime gun" and "ghost gun" but focuses the new requirement on evidence submission to NIBIN, a database that helps solve gun violence by matching firearm evidence across jurisdictions. This is a procedural change for law enforcement, not a new restriction on firearm ownership or use.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 5726, the Freedom to Read Act, prohibits public libraries and school libraries from removing materials based on disagreement with their content (such as race, gender, or political views), while allowing removals only for content deemed developmentally inappropriate or legally obscene. It requires public libraries to adopt a model policy for material selection and a formal reconsideration process where patrons can challenge materials through a written form, with reviews completed within 30 days by a committee including library staff. The law mandates that challenged materials remain available during review and requires governing bodies to provide written justifications for removal decisions, making them publicly available. This directly affects public libraries, school libraries, and patrons who use these services by establishing clear, transparent procedures for handling material challenges.
Maddy summaryHB 6394 modifies property tax levy limits for cities and towns in Rhode Island, with specific provisions for Providence. It gradually reduces the maximum annual tax increase cap from 5.5% (through 2007) down to 4% (starting 2013), requiring local governments to stay within these limits unless exceptions apply. The bill includes a special provision allowing Providence to exceed its cap in fiscal year 2026 for revenue from Class 2B property tax rates above $28.80 per $1,000 valuation. Exceptions permitting higher taxes include certified revenue shortfalls, emergencies (like health insurance spikes), debt service increases, or major new construction requiring infrastructure spending.
Maddy summaryHB 5247 prohibits retailers from advertising products with a "net price" (price after rebate) without disclosing the rebate amount at the point of purchase. It directly affects retailers selling goods with manufacturer rebates, requiring them to provide the rebate details to consumers when the item is purchased. The law makes it a deceptive trade practice to advertise rebates without this disclosure, aligning with federal rules for live-event tickets and short-term lodging. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, and applies to all retail sales involving rebates in the state.
Maddy summaryHB 5796 amends Rhode Island's zoning law to require municipalities to include new residential options in their zoning ordinances. Specifically, it adds a requirement that zoning rules must permit "residential use options that are not limited to single-family detached structures" in areas with existing public water and sewer capacity within urban service boundaries. This change directly affects towns and cities as they update their zoning codes, enabling more housing types like duplexes or townhomes without requiring new infrastructure. The key mechanism is mandating this flexibility in zoning districts where water and sewer systems already exist, aiming to increase housing diversity. The bill does not override existing single-family zoning but expands permissible options in eligible areas.
Maddy summaryHB 6038 removes the previous 3-month supply limit for initial contraceptive prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists in Rhode Island. This change directly affects patients seeking their first contraceptive prescription from a pharmacist, allowing them to receive a longer initial supply. The bill amends existing law to eliminate the three-month restriction while maintaining other requirements, such as pharmacist training, risk assessments, and provider notification. It ensures insurance coverage for pharmacist-prescribed contraceptives under the same terms as prescriptions from other providers.
Maddy summaryHB 6173 establishes the Rhode Island Anti-Bid-Rigging Act to prohibit coordinated schemes that manipulate competitive bidding for government contracts. The law defines "bid rigging" as activities like price fixing, identical bids, or rotating bids among contractors or officials, making it a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison and fines up to $1 million or three times the contract value. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and government officials involved in public procurement, prohibiting them from conspiring to influence bids or improperly sharing sensitive bid information. Violators face debarment from state contracts for up to five years, with government entities required to maintain exclusion lists. The law applies to all state and local government procurement processes under Titles 37 and 45.
Authorizes the establishment of a Rhode Island housing champion designation program and makes qualified municipalities eligible to receive preferential access to state resources, including discretionary state infrastructure funds, as available.
Repeals the required HIV testing for an individual convicted under chapter 34.1 of title 11 and allows the option for HIV testing for any person convicted under this chapter.
Requires manufacturers of assisting technology devices to make available to independent repair providers/the owner of the device, any documentation/parts, software/other items intended for use with the equipment/parts, including updates to software.