Rep. Joseph McNamara

Maddy summaryHB 7088 creates special vehicle registration plates for the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, a nonprofit organization that honors veterans by providing free trips to Washington, D.C. for WWII and Korean War veterans. Owners of vehicles registered with these special plates pay a $40 initial fee (with $20 going to the state general fund and $20 to the nonprofit) plus a $10 annual renewal fee that fully supports the nonprofit’s mission. The plates replace standard registration, must display the organization’s name, and require the nonprofit to use funds for Rhode Island charities while submitting annual financial reports. This procedural bill does not affect general vehicle registration but provides a dedicated funding mechanism for the nonprofit’s veterans' program.

Creates a special joint legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's education funding formula and education finance system.

Extends provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement for municipal police arbitration purposes until a successor agreement is reached or an interest arbitration award is rendered.

Changes the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist.

Strengthens school security measures, including the establishment of a RI school emergency response committee to develop additional recommendations for school security measures and requiring an annual school safety assessment by all school districts.

Establishes the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents.

Maddy summaryHB 7371 sets a statewide maximum limit of 12 children for family child care homes, overriding local zoning rules that might allow larger groups. This bill directly affects family child care providers operating out of residential homes across the state. The key provision establishes a uniform statewide standard, ensuring all such homes comply with this size limit regardless of local regulations. The bill aims to standardize child care capacity rules to enhance safety and consistency for families. It is currently pending a committee hearing as of February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 8603 amends Rhode Island driver education laws to exempt individuals in foster or adoptive homes from paying tuition fees for driver's education classes at the Community College of Rhode Island. This financial relief is funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Families and applies specifically to eligible youth receiving foster caregiving as defined by state regulations. The bill does not alter the existing curriculum, which includes instruction on alcohol and drug effects, distracted driving, and marijuana impairment, but rather removes the cost barrier for this specific group of students. By waiving enrollment fees, the legislation aims to ensure that foster and adoptive youth have equal access to the required thirty-three hours of classroom instruction needed to obtain a driver's license.

Maddy summaryHB 7585 expands eligibility for the state's crime victim compensation program to include hit-and-run victims who suffer serious bodily injury. The bill amends the existing law to explicitly add "failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in serious bodily injury or death" as a qualifying offense under the program. This change directly affects victims of hit-and-run collisions where the driver flees the scene and causes serious injury, allowing them to seek financial compensation through the current program. The policy change modifies the list of qualifying offenses without creating new funding or altering program administration.

Maddy summaryHB 7507 requires judgment creditors to send written notice to property owners within 10 business days of recording a lien on real property. The notice must include the creditor's contact details, judgment amount, property description, and instructions for resolving or disputing the lien, sent by certified mail to the owner's last known address. Failure to provide this notice does not invalidate the lien but may delay enforcement deadlines until the notice is sent. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and directly affects property owners who may face liens on their real estate.