Rep. Arthur Handy

RIDOC) (Creates a 9 member commission to study and make recommendations on the delivery of healthcare services at RIDOC, and who reports back to the House no later than January 5, 2026, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2026.

Amends the constitution to guarantee Rhode Island residents with equal opportunity to receive an education that is adequate, equitable and meaningful and provides judicial enforcement of this provision.

Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.

Maddy summaryHR 6154 is a commemorative resolution, not a policy bill. It proclaims April 2025 as "Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month" in Rhode Island. The resolution encourages Rhode Islanders to learn about issues affecting people with limb loss or limb difference, support affected individuals and caregivers, and honor veterans who have experienced limb loss. It directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to the Amputee Coalition and the National Limb Loss Resource Center. This resolution has no binding effect but aims to raise public awareness.

Mandates state and electric distribution companies develop proposals and encourage off shore wind power development and give priority in those projects to providing employment and business opportunities to workers from disadvantaged communities.

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth, 12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.

Includes the definition of "primary care services" and requires that all biennial reports shall include a review and recommendation of rates for primary care services on and after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5172 requires health insurers in Rhode Island to be transparent and accountable when using artificial intelligence to manage coverage and claims. It mandates insurers to publicly disclose their AI algorithms and data, maintain records for five years, and notify enrollees when AI is used in coverage denials or reductions. Insurers must involve licensed healthcare professionals - not just AI - to review adverse decisions on medically necessary care and continuously monitor for discrimination or privacy violations. This law directly affects all Rhode Island health insurers and their enrollees by creating enforceable standards for AI use in claims management.

Amends the current law in order that a health insurer would not require a physician, to participate in "capitation," or any other "alternative payment model" that creates a financial incentive for a physician to limit medically necessary care.

Maddy summaryHB 5712 establishes fusion voting in Rhode Island, allowing candidates to run under multiple political parties for the same office. It directly affects candidates, political parties, and voters by enabling a single candidate to appear on the ballot under multiple party lines. Key provisions require candidates to formally accept all nominations in writing within 10 days, mandate ballots to display the candidate under each nominating party, and combine all votes for that candidate across party lines into a single total while preventing duplicate voting. The bill also requires ballot design and voting equipment to clearly support this process, including voter instructions and accessibility compliance.