Includes the general assembly elections within the category of elections subject to the risk-limiting audits within the jurisdiction of the board of elections.
Maddy summaryHB 7981 updates state laws to give Rhode Island towns and cities more flexibility in writing their local zoning rules. The bill allows municipalities to create special districts that offer development incentives, such as higher density or increased building heights, in exchange for providing public benefits like new housing, open spaces, or traffic improvements. It also permits communities to establish mixed-use zones and regulate specific features like drive-through windows and development near scenic areas. By standardizing these options, the legislation aims to help local governments better manage land use while addressing housing needs and infrastructure challenges.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution from Rhode Island that formally celebrates the 214th anniversary of Colombian Independence Day on July 20, 2024. It recognizes the historical events leading to Colombia's freedom from Spanish rule and highlights the shared values of liberty between the United States and Colombia. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the document to the Colombian American Cultural Society and Colombia en Rhode Island to share the official recognition.
Totally repeals the 1964 public law, which established the Johnston Municipal Court and which has never been amended and would enable the town of Johnston to establish a municipal court and housing court with expanded legal and equitable powers.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the standard property tax exemption for veterans in Rhode Island from $1,000 to $5,000. It applies to individuals who served honorably in various U.S. military conflicts, as well as their unmarried widows or widowers, allowing them to reduce their municipal property taxes. While the state sets this new baseline, the legislation grants local town councils the authority to establish their own higher exemption limits or alternative tax credits for veterans within their specific jurisdictions. The change directly affects eligible veterans and their surviving spouses by lowering the amount of real and personal property value subject to local taxation.
Maddy summaryThis House resolution urges the federal government to take specific actions to reduce the risk of nuclear war, including renouncing the option of a first strike and removing nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert status. The bill directly calls on the President and the Senate to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which would make possessing or using such weapons illegal under international law. Additionally, it requests the cancellation of plans to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the pursuit of an agreement among nuclear states to eliminate their stockpiles. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change federal law but serves as a formal recommendation to the executive and legislative branches.
Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates June 2024 as Pride Month in Rhode Island to honor the LGBTQIA+ community. It recognizes the state's history of protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity while celebrating the culture and contributions of LGBTQIA+ residents. The document directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to Rhode Island Pride, acknowledging the organization's role in local events.
Provides that gift certificates issued by state-chartered institutions of higher education would be exempt from the provisions of the gift certificate statute relating to expiration, escheatment, reissuance and refund.
Maddy summaryThis resolution is a non-binding statement from the Rhode Island House of Representatives that strongly supports a specific bill, H.R. 4052, introduced in the U.S. Congress. The bill seeks to create a National Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $5 trillion in financing for infrastructure projects across the United States. Proponents argue this funding would help repair aging systems like bridges and roads without requiring new federal taxes or increasing the national debt. The resolution itself does not change any laws or allocate funds but serves to urge the U.S. Congress to pass the underlying legislation.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the fee that individuals must pay to justices of the peace in Rhode Island from fifty dollars to one hundred dollars, with a higher fee allowed for special sessions held between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. The legislation also grants justices of the peace immunity from lawsuits for actions taken while performing their duties under the law. These officials, who are already authorized to set bail and issue warrants for various law enforcement agencies, will see this financial adjustment apply to each person appearing before them. The change does not alter the existing powers of justices of the peace regarding bail, warrants, or scheduling pre-trial conferences, but it does update the compensation structure for their services.
