Provides an exemption for certain incarcerated persons from the payment of fees for a first request for vital statistics from the department of health.
Standardizes successor appointment language for various boards and adds language providing that a quorum be a majority of appointed members and the language applies across several healthcare professional boards that currently lack this language.
Maddy summaryHB 5512 exempts all real and tangible personal property owned by PROJECT Weber/RENEW, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation, from state property taxes. This bill amends Rhode Island's tax code (specifically Section 44-3-3) to add PROJECT Weber/RENEW as a qualifying entity for property tax exemption, directly affecting only this organization. The key provision creates a new exemption category for the nonprofit's property, removing it from taxable status under the state's property taxation rules. This is a targeted tax exemption for a single entity, not a broad policy change. The bill was passed by both chambers and signed by the governor in June 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 5441 reduces the waiting period for expunging criminal records in Rhode Island. It shortens the timeframe to three years after completing a sentence for a single misdemeanor, and five years for felonies or multiple misdemeanors (two to five offenses). The bill applies to eligible first-time offenders who have paid all court fees and fines, excluding those convicted of violent crimes or specific offenses under Chapter 29 of Title 12. Expungement remains unavailable for violent offenses, and records related to decriminalized offenses can still be expunged after conviction.
Prohibits any questioning of a juvenile who is suspected of delinquent or criminal behavior, unless the parent of guardian of the juvenile is present, or unless an attorney is present or the juvenile and their parents have waived their presence.
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution recognizing "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" on June 19, 2025, specifically for Rhode Island. It urges state citizens to observe the day and learn about its historical significance as a celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply encourages public recognition and education about Juneteenth's history, aligning with Rhode Island's existing state holiday status for the day (established in 2023).
Allows the board of elections to tabulate mail ballots in local special elections in the same manner as in tabulate mail ballots in statewide elections.
Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6372 is a formal request from the Rhode Island House of Representatives to the U.S. Coast Guard. It urges the Coast Guard to retain and maintain 38 buoys currently considered for removal from Rhode Island waters. The resolution aims to ensure the safety of recreational boaters and commercial traffic, emphasizing the importance of physical aids to navigation alongside modern electronic systems.
