Rep. Jackie Baginski

Maddy summaryHB 6146 establishes a rebuttable presumption of self-defense for property owners, tenants, or occupiers who cause injury or death to an individual committing certain criminal offenses. If a person is injured or dies while engaged in specific crimes, such as burglary or violent offenses against a person, the owner is presumed to have acted by reasonable means and in the belief that great bodily harm or death was imminent. This presumption applies in both civil and criminal proceedings. The bill also specifies that there is no duty for the owner or occupier to retreat from such an individual.

Maddy summaryHB 5496 proposes changes to the licensing and disciplinary processes for nurses, directly affecting licensed nurses, practical nurses, and the Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education. The bill alters the composition of the Board of Nursing by adjusting the number of professional and practical nurse members and extending term limits. It expands the Board's powers to include requiring licensees to undergo physical or psychiatric examinations if impairment is suspected, and referring them to non-disciplinary alternative programs. Additionally, it updates language regarding practical nurse qualifications and license renewal notices.

Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a seven (7) member board of licensure.

Reduces the current varying percentages for early retirement penalty for teachers, municipal and state employees to a cumulative annual reduction of 3% and monthly reduction of .25%.

Allows any peace officer working in a Rhode Island school as a full or part-time resource officer to work in excess of the seventy-five (75) working days in a calendar year, and not have an interruption in their benefits.

Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) gross weight, used exclusively for personal use, from sales tax.

Maddy summaryHB 5785 creates a temporary sales tax holiday on August 9-10, 2025, waiving sales tax on most nonbusiness retail purchases of tangible personal property. It excludes telecommunications, tobacco, fuel, vehicles, meals, and single items priced over $2,500. Vendors cannot collect tax on qualifying purchases during those dates and must refund any improperly collected tax. The bill requires vendors to maintain regular reporting obligations and mandates a post-holiday revenue report to state committees. This policy directly affects individual consumers making eligible purchases during the two-day window.

Allows the applicant for a land development project to utilize the administrative subdivision process established under 45-23-37 to request approval of a proposed subdivision of an oversized lot.

Removes the definition of "totally and permanently disabled" from the general law affording college tuition paid by the state to the spouse and children of active members of the police force who are killed or disabled during duty.

Allows the division of motor vehicles to make special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares provided they meet the minimum order requirements.