Allows citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities.
Maddy summaryHB 7341 requires school districts that send students to regional vocational schools for career and technical education (CTE) or pathways programs to receive regular updates on student progress from the receiving district, starting July 1, 2026. It mandates quarterly reports or immediate updates for significant changes, such as a student leaving the program. The bill also adjusts costs: if the receiving district’s program costs less than the home district’s per-pupil spending, the home district only pays the lower cost, and transportation costs are limited to actual expenses. This applies to all students enrolled in approved CTE or pathways programs outside their home district.
Maddy summaryHB 7417 requires every public school in Rhode Island (including charter and vocational schools) to have a dedicated library space and a certified school librarian. It mandates specific library resources like book collections, technology, and daily student access, with staffing requirements phased in: full-time librarians for schools of 250+ students immediately, high schools by 2026-27, and all K-12 schools by 2030-31. The bill directs the education commissioner to enforce these standards, ensuring consistent library access and qualified staff. This legislation applies to all public schools and is pending passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution expressing condolences for Manuel Pedroso, a 106-year-old Portuguese-American community leader from Rhode Island who passed away. The resolution acknowledges his lifelong contributions, including his work as a welder during World War II, his decades of operating Friends Market in Providence, and his role as a mentor to new Portuguese immigrants. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to Pedroso's family, serving as an official tribute to his legacy rather than enacting new policy changes.
Maddy summaryHB 7954 requires large social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms prioritize content. It directly affects major platforms with significant user engagement, mandating transparency about algorithmic decision-making. The bill's key provision is a requirement for platforms to explain their content-ranking systems to users and regulators. This aims to increase clarity around how user feeds are curated, without specifying particular content rules or outcomes. The bill is currently under further study in committee.
Enables employees to no longer have to utilize sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave or other paid time off as a condition to their maternity leave.
Establishes a restricted receipt account at the DLT for hospitality industry workforce training grants, funded by an annual $50 dollar fee to be charged by RIDOH to food service establishments.
Permits municipalities to enter into contracts with the department of transportation for the municipality to perform minor and routine maintenance work on state highways, roadways, and shoulders located within the municipality.
Maddy summaryHB 7990 would establish state efficiency standards for tires sold in the state, requiring manufacturers to meet specific performance criteria aimed at improving vehicle fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. It directly affects tire manufacturers (who must comply with new standards) and vehicle owners (who would purchase tires meeting these requirements). The key provision sets measurable efficiency targets for tires, with the goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. The bill is currently under review by the House State Government & Elections committee, having been referred for further study after a committee hearing.
Amends current law on controlled substances to permit psilocybin to be cultivated within a person's residence for personal use and contingent on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) program, mandates that RI DOH establishes rules regulations.
