Rep. Edith Ajello

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 2025 as "Arts in the Schools Month" in Rhode Island, recognizing the importance of arts education in schools. It urges all citizens to observe the month and acknowledge arts educators, artists, and administrators who support arts learning. The House passed the resolution on March 18, 2025, and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but formally highlights existing state efforts to advance arts education.

Maddy summaryHR 5515 proposes a constitutional amendment to change voting eligibility in Rhode Island. It would remove the 30-day state and local residency requirement for voters, allowing individuals to register or vote on election day. The amendment maintains a 30-day residency requirement for candidates seeking office. If approved by voters, this change would take effect January 1, 2026, and would replace the current voting eligibility rules in the state constitution. The amendment must be submitted to voters at the next statewide general election.

Maddy summaryHB 5103 prohibits landlords and housing agents in Rhode Island from asking applicants about prior incarceration history or discriminating against them based on that history. The bill amends the Fair Housing Practices Act to explicitly include "prior incarceration" as a protected characteristic, alongside existing categories like race and gender. This means landlords cannot deny housing, refuse to rent, or ask about past jail time during the application process. The law directly affects renters with criminal records and aims to reduce barriers to housing for people who have been released from prison.

Requires EOHHS to develop a budget and seek funding to establish an early childhood mental health hub program to improve access to infant and early childhood mental health services for children under six (6) years and their families.

Adds new sections that set forth conditions for pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation drug therapies, including education approved by state board of pharmacy. The cessation therapies to be covered by all health insurance carriers on or after 1/1/26.

Amends several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers.

Requires every individual or group health insurance plan on or after January 1, 2026, that provides benefits to reimburse child service providers for therapy services offered through EOHHS certified Kids Connect/Therapeutic Services.

Maddy summaryHB 5920 amends Rhode Island's Fair Housing Practices Act by updating key definitions to clarify protections against housing discrimination. It specifically defines terms like "lawful source of income" (including Section 8 housing vouchers and public assistance), "disability" (excluding current illegal drug use), "assistance animals," and "gender identity or expression." These changes directly affect landlords, housing providers, and tenants by clarifying prohibited practices, such as inquiries about domestic abuse history or discrimination based on income source. The bill, currently pending in committee, aims to strengthen enforcement of existing anti-discrimination safeguards without creating new prohibitions.

Maddy summaryHB 5503 would require landlords to have "good cause" to evict tenants in most residential rental properties, directly affecting renters and landlords covered by the law. The bill specifies that landlords can only remove tenants for defined reasons like nonpayment of rent (with limits on unreasonable rent increases) or serious lease violations, and must go through court to enforce evictions. It excludes certain properties, such as owner-occupied buildings with fewer than five units or housing tied to employment. The bill is currently under review by a committee and has not yet become law.

Limits rent increases to no more than 4% annually unless the landlord is granted an exemption by the secretary of housing and provides tenants with a civil action to recover damages, including an award of attorneys' fees/punitive damages, for violations.