Rep. David Bennett

Maddy summaryHB 6164 creates a new bureau of public protection within Rhode Island's Attorney General's office to address consumer protection, health care regulation, environmental issues, and civil rights. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to investigate and take legal action against businesses or organizations engaging in repeated illegal activities that harm the public, including seeking court orders to stop such conduct and recover restitution or fines. It requires the bureau to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing investigations, court applications, and outcomes like injunctions or penalties. The bill takes effect upon passage and does not apply to entities already exempted under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 5252 creates a temporary five-member budget commission to oversee Warwick Public Schools' finances until the city approves the fiscal year 2025-2026 school budget. The commission must approve all school spending (except emergencies), develop a three-year financial plan within 120 days, and create a deficit reduction strategy. It cannot alter collective bargaining agreements, hire/terminate staff, or impact bond-funded projects. The commission expires once the approved budget and deficit plan are adopted, with its authority superseding conflicting local laws. This bill directly affects Warwick's school district and city budget processes.

Maddy summaryHR 5732 proposes a constitutional amendment (the "Green Amendment") that would add a new right to all Rhode Islanders: the inherent right to clean air, clean water, healthy soil, a stable climate, and preservation of natural, scenic, and recreational environmental values. If approved by voters, it would require the state to act as a trustee of natural resources, protecting these rights equitably for all people regardless of race, gender, or income, and for both current and future generations. The amendment would take effect January 1, 2027, and must be voted on by Rhode Island residents at the next statewide general election. This is a procedural proposal - voters must approve it before it becomes part of the state constitution.

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.

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.

Recognizes that municipal employees have the opportunity to utilize interest arbitration and would establish new factors for the arbitrators to consider. These factors include comparisons of wages/hourly conditions of employment in similarly skilled jobs.

Maddy summaryHB 5024 prohibits health insurers from requiring or conducting utilization reviews for prescriptions used to treat opioid or alcohol use disorders. Specifically, it bans reviews for prescriptions containing Methadone, Buprenorphine, or Naltrexone, or those approved by the FDA to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms. The bill directly affects individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment for addiction and insurers who would otherwise review these prescriptions. It ensures coverage for these treatments cannot be denied after prior approval, unless fraud or misrepresentation occurred. The law takes effect upon passage.

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.

Requires each healthcare entity/network plan to compile/report to health insurance commissioner a summary of how the healthcare entity/network plan requires its contracted providers to submit claims for in-network outpatient behavioral health services.

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.