Rep. Scott Slater

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that officially celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on May 19, 2026. It recognizes the organization's decade-long work in supporting Latino entrepreneurs, small businesses, and underserved communities through various programs like financial training and networking events. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the document to the Chamber's leader, Oscar Mejias, as a formal acknowledgment of their contributions to Rhode Island's economy.

Submits the State's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 8426 amends the state's medical marijuana law to establish a structured process for licensing compassion centers, which are facilities authorized to cultivate and distribute medical cannabis. The bill mandates that the state health department initially issue a single license, followed by additional licenses over time until a maximum of nine centers are operational. It outlines specific requirements for applications, including a $10,000 fee, security measures, and public input, while also detailing a schedule for accepting new applications and issuing licenses. Additionally, the legislation allows existing cultivators to apply for compassion center licenses, which would merge with their current cultivation permits.

Amends the school funding formula to ensure that local education authorities do not lose funding due to disruptions in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $200,000 in state funding to the Rhode Island Free Clinic for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is intended to support the clinic's mission of providing free medical care and preventive health services to uninsured adults who cannot afford healthcare. The funds will be drawn from the state treasury and paid out based on submitted financial vouchers. This appropriation directly affects the clinic's operations and ability to serve its target population.

Maddy summaryHB 7690 increases the cash support pass-through under Rhode Island Works, allowing families receiving cash assistance to keep more child support payments. Specifically, it raises the amount from $50 to $100 for one child and from $100 to $200 for multiple children (or the full payment if less than these amounts), provided the child support is paid on time and collected by the Department of Human Services. This pass-through payment must be sent to the family within two business days of being due. The bill applies to families with children receiving Rhode Island Works cash assistance and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Amends the Rhode Island works program to allow lawful permanent residents to receive benefits without a waiting period and increases the monthly cash benefit to one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty level effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 7259 is a joint resolution appropriating $3,000,000 from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Food Bank for fiscal year 2026-2027. It directly supports the Food Bank’s operations, which serve 137 member agencies across Rhode Island, as federal SNAP benefits for approximately 32,000 residents are set to decrease or end due to recent federal legislation. The resolution authorizes the state controller to fund the Food Bank as needed through vouchers, addressing increased demand for food assistance amid rising food insecurity. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and it applies solely to state budget allocation for the Food Bank.

Removes the requirement that families consent to, and cooperate with the department of human services in establishing paternity and enforcing child and medical support orders as a condition of eligibility for child care assistance.

Eliminates the sunset on the provision of funding, modify eligibility requirement to 85% of state median income and expand funding to at least 20 hours per week.