Establishes a rare disease advisory council within the department of health and provides guidance and recommendations to educate health care providers and the citizens of the state.
Maddy summaryHB 6118 requires most health insurance plans in the state to cover mobile response and stabilization services for children and youth under 18 experiencing acute mental health crises, such as aggression, self-injury, or suicidal thoughts. The bill mandates coverage for certified providers delivering immediate crisis intervention, assessment, and follow-up care, effective for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. It excludes certain policies like accident-only, Medicare supplements, and limited-benefit plans. This policy change directly affects insurers, certified behavioral health providers, and young people enrolled in covered health plans.
Eliminates the "until June 30, 2025" sunset on the increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.
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.
Maddy summaryHB 5158 removes the requirement for applicants to pass a standardized written exam to become a licensed clinical social worker in Rhode Island, effective until August 15, 2030. This change directly affects social workers seeking clinical licensure in the state, eliminating a key barrier to entry. The bill also directs the licensing board to consider accommodations for non-English speakers and explore alternative qualification paths to better serve Rhode Island's diverse communities. The law aims to increase access to licensure while maintaining other qualification standards like education and experience.
Maddy summaryHB 5322 extends a temporary allowance for retired teachers in Rhode Island to substitute teach up to 180 days per school year (instead of the standard 90-day limit) through July 1, 2026. School districts must first prove they couldn't fill positions with non-retired teachers and report their total certified teaching positions to the state retirement board, while also limiting retired teacher hires to no more than 5% of their total certified positions. This change applies retroactively to June 20, 2025, and directly affects retired teachers seeking substitute roles and school districts facing staffing shortages. The bill does not provide additional retirement credits or require contributions from retired teachers for this work.
Maddy summaryHB 5306 repeals the law establishing the Capital Center Commission, a special development district commission for downtown Providence. This bill removes the legal framework that allowed the commission to manage development projects, collect special assessments from property owners, and oversee improvements like parking, landscaping, and public services within the downtown district. The repeal eliminates the commission's authority without creating new policies or affecting current development activities. As a procedural bill, it directly affects the governance structure for downtown Providence's development efforts.
Requires any state agency that prints more than fifty (50) copies of a contract, publication, brochure, notice, or promotional material to use state-owned or operated print shop capable of processing the material.
Maddy summaryHB 5029 sets the state's minimum wage at $16.00 per hour starting January 1, 2026, and increases it to $17.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all employers covered by the state's minimum wage law, including businesses with hourly workers. The legislation amends existing law to add these specific future wage rates, building on previous annual increases already in effect. It does not include additional provisions or exemptions beyond the specified hourly rates for 2026 and 2027.
Maddy summaryHB 5698 changes how property taxes are calculated for owner-occupied low- and moderate-income housing. It requires assessors to use a property’s most recent sales price - not standard market value - as the tax assessment basis for qualifying housing units. This directly affects homeowners in designated low- and moderate-income housing that serves as owner-occupied residences. The change prevents tax increases tied to rising market values, maintaining affordability for eligible homeowners.
