Increases continuing education requirements for physician assistants, removes restrictions of PAs to render charitable care and aid for school and youth programs or cardiac arrest and removes restrictive covenants as to ownership by a PA.
Expands the definition of "educational program" for purposes of the abused and neglected children general law to include charter schools, parochial schools, after school programs, camps and various other programs involving children.
Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.
Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a 7 member board of licensure.
Maddy summaryThis bill honors Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. on its 50th anniversary and recognizes its contributions to mental health care in Rhode Island. The resolution acknowledges the organization's history, its merger in 2018, and its role in providing comprehensive behavioral health services. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the organization's president and CEO.
Maddy summaryHB 7696 establishes a tax credit for Rhode Island businesses transitioning to employee ownership structures. It provides up to 50% of eligible conversion costs (capped at $100,000 for worker-owned co-ops or employee ownership trusts, $25,000 for alternate structures) and up to 50% of expansion costs (capped at $25,000) for qualified businesses expanding existing employee ownership models. The credit applies to income tax years 2026-2028 for businesses converting to or expanding employee ownership trusts, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker-owned cooperatives, or defined "alternate equity structures" that meet specific participation and allocation requirements. This directly affects qualifying businesses seeking to shift ownership to employees while retaining community investment.
Amends current law on controlled substances to permit psilocybin to be cultivated within a person's residence for personal use and contingent on the US FDA's program, mandate that RI department of health establish rules regulations.
Maddy summaryHB 7937 prohibits hospitals and health systems from charging facility fees for healthcare services provided off-campus (outside the defined campus area or via telemedicine). It requires all off-campus locations to use unique identification numbers (NPIs) starting January 1, 2027, to ensure claims accurately reflect where services were delivered. The bill mandates that providers submit separate professional fee claims (using forms like CMS-1500) instead of institutional claims for off-site care, with reimbursement limited to professional fees only. This directly affects hospitals, health systems, and patients receiving care at off-campus locations like urgent care centers or telehealth services.
Maddy summaryHR 7401 is a procedural joint resolution that appropriates $75,000 to Jewish Collaborative Services. This funding directs a specific sum to the organization for its operational needs but does not establish new policies or affect broader populations. The resolution was introduced on January 28, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee.
Maddy summaryHB 7502 would require the state, not local towns or cities, to handle all maintenance of sidewalks alongside state highways - such as repairs, cleaning, and replacement - except for snow and ice removal. This directly affects municipalities that previously managed sidewalk upkeep along state roads, shifting that responsibility to the state transportation department. The bill amends existing laws to clarify the state’s authority for sidewalk construction and maintenance, while explicitly excluding snow and ice removal from the state’s duties. It does not create new sidewalks but changes who maintains existing ones along state highways. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after introduction on February 4, 2026.
