Rep. Grace Diaz

Maddy summaryHR 6310 is a House Resolution that honors and thanks Donna Policastro for her fifty-six years of dedicated service as a registered nurse and administrator in Rhode Island. The resolution acknowledges her contributions to nursing, including her work on legislative improvements and her leadership roles.

Maddy summaryHR 6313 is a resolution that proclaims May 10th, 2025, as "Lupus Day" in the State of Rhode Island. It aims to raise public awareness of lupus and encourages charitable donations to organizations engaged in lupus research and patient services.

Requires public middle schools, to allow students from a recognized non-public, charter, or alternative education institution, to participate in a non-sponsored sport in the school district where the student resides.

Requires the state investment commission to create a capital access initiative to expand potential investment opportunities for the state’s pension fund and engage qualified but traditionally underrepresented investment managers.

Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause.

Maddy summaryHB 6107 establishes a pilot program for a virtual reality learning platform aimed at improving math and science skills for students in grades 6 through 12. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the bill appropriates $2 million to fund this program. The Department of Education will select a platform through a request for proposal process, which must offer tactile, multimodal learning experiences and demonstrated improvement in Algebra 1. The funds will also be used to train middle and high school mathematics teachers in selected districts to use virtual reality technology in their classrooms.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6293 proclaims May 1, 2025, as "Child Care Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode Island. This resolution encourages the citizens of Rhode Island to recognize the skills and dedication of child care providers and highlights the importance of high-quality child care for children and families.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 5479 proposes to appropriate $750,000 from the state treasury for the fiscal years 2025-2026. This funding is intended to provide operational support for WaterFire Providence, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization. The organization hosts an admission-free event in downtown Providence and operates the WaterFire Arts Center, serving residents and visitors.

Reduces the time, from three (3) years to six (6) months, required for a nonimmigrant foreign national student, who has resided in Rhode Island, to be eligible to pay the same in-state tuition as any other Rhode Island student.

Maddy summaryHB 5476, titled "AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION," modifies the state's existing hotel tax law. The bill removes the current exemption for houses, condominiums, or other residential dwellings when they are rented out in their entirety. This means that such properties, when rented, would become subject to the five percent (5%) state hotel tax. The bill directly affects owners who rent out their entire residential properties and the individuals who occupy them. These changes are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.