Rep. David Bennett

Maddy summaryHR 6303 is a House Resolution that officially designates the second week of May 2025 as "Lung Cancer Action Week" in the State of Rhode Island. This resolution aims to increase public awareness regarding lung cancer education, research, screening, and treatment, with a focus on issues affecting minorities and individuals who have never smoked.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6300 proclaims the first full week of May, 2025, as "Composting Awareness Week" in the State of Rhode Island. It urges the Governor and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs, and encourages all Rhode Islanders to participate in composting.

Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under a health plan as of January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5280, the "Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Act," aims to provide inclusive educational opportunities at state colleges and universities for students aged 18-21 with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities who receive special education services. The bill allows these students to participate in credit or non-credit courses, internships, and campus life without requiring a high school diploma or college entrance exams. Their participation is considered an approved special education service and a form of secondary school education, covered if addressed in their Individualized Education Program. While state institutions can set selection guidelines, they cannot deny opportunities solely based on disability, and they are not required to fund individual supports beyond typical provisions.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $90,000,000 to the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services to be invested in increasing reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers.

Imposes a hospital licensing fee for fiscal year 2026 against net patient-services revenue of every non-government owned hospital for the hospital’s first fiscal year ending on or after January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 5203 directs the Department of Education and the Office of Energy Resources to develop new regulations for school buildings. These regulations will require all school buildings to meet a "zero energy capable" standard by December 31, 2037, with the regulations themselves to be adopted by June 30, 2026. The bill ensures that local education agencies have flexibility to pursue state and federal funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy systems without losing state housing aid. It also mandates guidance for school districts to build, own, and operate solar panels using federal incentives.

Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6278 proclaims April 29, 2025, as "Community College of Rhode Island Day" in the State of Rhode Island. This resolution honors the college's 60th anniversary and recognizes its contributions to education and workforce development for Rhode Islanders since 1964.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends state law regarding the licensing and monitoring of child placement agencies and foster homes. It mandates that all out-of-state foster care placement facilities must register as a Medicaid provider with the state's medical assistance program. The director of the department can waive this Medicaid registration requirement on a case-by-case basis in emergencies, if no registered provider is available for a child's placement.