Limits the mandatory rental registry to properties constructed prior to 1978, and further push out the effective date of registration to September 1, 2025, with the penalty clause becoming effective as of October 1, 2025.
Requires landlords of residential properties built before 1978 to register lead hazard mitigation information with the department of health and the information would be private and only accessible by specific entities.
Defines squatter as a person occupying a dwelling unit who is not authorized by the property owner, landlord or tenant to occupy the unit and provides remedies for property owner including police assistance to remove a squatter.
Maddy summaryHB 5729 amends a state law to explicitly prohibit depositing or blowing grass or grass clippings onto highways or roadways. This directly affects homeowners, landscapers, and property owners who mow lawns near roads, as they can no longer blow clippings onto public thoroughfares. The bill adds grass/grass clippings to an existing list of prohibited debris like glass, nails, and cans, which are deemed hazardous to drivers or pedestrians. Violations carry fines under existing penalty provisions. The change aims to improve road safety and cleanliness by preventing lawn debris from becoming a hazard.
Replaces the existing chapter on this subject by requiring school districts to organize concussion oversight teams, develop removal-from-play, return-to-play, and return-to-learn protocols, and develop a concussion brochure.
Maddy summaryHB 5490 requires every Rhode Island high school to have a certified athletic trainer present at all athletic and recreational events. It mandates annual concussion training for coaches, volunteers, and school nurses, and requires immediate removal of athletes suspected of head injuries. Athletes must receive written medical clearance from a physician before returning to play, and parents must sign consent forms acknowledging concussion risks before each sport season. The bill directly affects high school athletes, coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers across all public school districts.
Maddy summaryHB 5912 modifies evidence rules in civil injury and wrongful death cases involving medical care. It states that the amount billed by a licensed health care provider is presumed to be the fair and reasonable charge, and payments received by that provider from insurers, government programs, or workers' compensation cannot be used as evidence to challenge that billed amount. This directly affects medical providers, insurers, and parties in malpractice or injury lawsuits by preventing defendants from using lower insurance payments to dispute the full billed cost. The bill takes effect upon passage and aims to simplify evidence standards for medical billing in court.
Maddy summaryHB 5907 would require litigation lending agreements (LLAs) to comply with Rhode Island's usury laws, making high-interest loans to litigants subject to state interest rate limits. It directly affects individuals involved in civil lawsuits who take such loans and the companies providing them, as repayment terms exceeding the loan amount would be treated as interest under existing usury rules. The bill explicitly states that no matter how lenders label these agreements (e.g., "investment" or "advance"), any repayment above the initial amount counts as interest and must adhere to state limits. This policy change would prevent lenders from circumventing usury laws through creative contract terms, ensuring all litigation financing aligns with standard loan regulations.
Requires nonprofit, as a condition for requesting state funds from the general assembly, to submit & post on their website, a list of10 of their highest paid director, officer & employee salaries & any forms of compensation provided to those individuals.
Maddy summaryHB 5435 prohibits state agencies from entering into software contracts that restrict their ability to install or run the software on hardware they choose. It directly affects all state agencies purchasing software with state funds, including contracts for licenses, services, and related agreements. The bill bans any contractual terms that prevent agencies from using the software on their own desktops or servers, ensuring agencies maintain control over their hardware choices. This policy change applies to all new software agreements entered after the bill takes effect.
