Requires the department of administration to provide a list of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises to each prospective contractor of a construction project.
Permits the division of unclaimed property within the office of the general treasurer to accept miscellaneous intangible property belonging to Rhode Island residents.
Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Codac, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit domestic corporation, located at 45 Royal Little Drive in Providence, Rhode Island.
Maddy summaryHB 5686 requires Rhode Island municipalities to maintain and update a current list of rights-of-way to tidal areas designated by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). This affects all cities and towns within Rhode Island that have coastal areas or tidal waterways. The bill mandates that municipalities regularly review and revise these lists to ensure accurate records of public access and infrastructure near tidal zones. This update supports the CRMC’s broader coastal management efforts by providing clear, up-to-date information for planning and resource protection.
Maddy summaryHB 5293 creates a public education program to teach Rhode Island residents and businesses how to properly recycle textiles like clothing and linens. It requires private recyclers to submit annual reports on collected textiles starting in 2028, and the environmental department will use this data to set future recycling targets by 2029. The bill also mandates an online directory to help households and businesses find textile recycling options. This law directly affects residents, businesses, and textile recyclers by changing how recycling education is delivered and how collection data is tracked. It takes effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
Maddy summaryHB 5369 exempts the real and tangible personal property of the Providence Preservation Society from property taxes. This bill adds the society to the existing list of entities eligible for tax exemptions under Rhode Island law. The change directly affects the Providence Preservation Society by removing property tax obligations for its owned buildings and assets used in preservation work. The exemption applies to all real estate and tangible personal property held by the society, consistent with similar exemptions for nonprofit and historical organizations.
Maddy summaryHB 5549 amends Rhode Island’s Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association rules to clarify how the association handles claims from insolvent insurers. It sets specific payment limits: up to $10,000 per policy for unearned premiums, $1 million for property claims (post-January 2026), and lower caps for older claims. The bill also details how insurers are assessed fees (capped at 2% of premiums) to cover these claims and outlines procedures for claim processing and administrative costs. *Note: The official abstract incorrectly mentions a "home hardening program"; the bill text focuses solely on guaranty association operations, not new funding for home hardening.* This is a procedural change affecting insurers and claimants in Rhode Island during insurer insolvencies.
Maddy summaryHB 5220 amends Rhode Island's 2015 Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act to require police departments statewide to collect detailed data during routine traffic stops and searches. This includes recording the officer's perception of the driver's race/ethnicity, stop reasons, search details, and outcomes (like citations or arrests), starting no later than January 2026. An independent agency chosen by the Department of Transportation must conduct an annual study analyzing this data for racial disparities and publish public reports quarterly and annually. The law aims to provide transparency on traffic stop practices and support efforts to address potential inequities in policing.
Exempts certain urban and small farmers from sales taxes, real, tangible and personal property taxes and income taxes. This act would also define urban and small farmers and urban farmland.
Reduces the number of times the director of the lottery has to confer with the permanent joint committee on state lottery from nine (9) times per year to four (4) times per year or at the call of the chair and vice chair of the committee.
