Adds a provision that allows a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other prepaid rent. It also increases the amount that a security deposit can be requested from one to two (2) months of rent.
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 7901 requires every public school district to designate a certified athletic trainer at each high school within its boundaries. This directly affects high school athletes participating in sports programs and the schools themselves. The key provision mandates that each individual high school must have its own certified trainer on staff, not a district-wide arrangement. The bill aims to standardize concussion care protocols during athletic activities as specified in its title.
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.
Increases the role of the DMV in the voter registration and address verification process, by establishing very specific obligations and responsibilities that must be followed before offering an individual an application to register to vote.
Maddy summaryHB 8044 would treat fraud involving gift cards as theft (larceny), applying the same penalties to offenders. This directly affects gift card holders who are victims of fraud, such as when cards are stolen, duplicated, or sold without authorization. The bill’s key mechanism is amending commercial law to align gift card fraud offenses with existing larceny penalties under state law. This change would make fraud against gift card users subject to the same legal consequences as stealing physical property.
Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day within the State of Rhode Island. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Governor for formal acknowledgment. The measure commemorates the historical significance of the day, which honors women's rights and gender equality through a global observance established by the United Nations.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy bill. HR 7829 expresses the Rhode Island House of Representatives' condolences to the family of Carlo Spirito, Jr., a former Cranston City Council member and math teacher, following his passing. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to his wife, Florence Spirito, and family. It has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws, programs, or specific groups beyond this formal expression of sympathy.
Requires mail ballots applications to include the RI driving license or state identification number, if unexpired or expired no more than 6 months prior to the election, or the last four digits of the voter’s Soc Sec number.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates January 2026 as "Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month" in Rhode Island. It directly affects Rhode Island firefighters and the public by formally recognizing the heightened cancer risks they face, citing CDC/NIOSH data showing firefighters have up to 2 times higher risk for certain cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer compared to the general population. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture to promote awareness and support ongoing efforts by organizations like the IAFF and Firefighter Support Network to address firefighter cancer through education and prevention. It does not create new laws, funding, or mandates.
