Rep. David Bennett

Maddy summaryHB 7594 increases Rhode Island's earned-income tax credit (EITC) rate to 30% for tax years beginning in 2027 and later. This change directly benefits low-to-moderate income workers who qualify for the EITC, providing them with a larger refundable tax credit. The bill amends the state's tax code to adjust the credit percentage while maintaining the existing eligibility rules for qualifying individuals and families. This is a concrete policy change that will increase tax refunds for eligible working residents starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 7695 creates tax exemptions for property, tangible personal property, sales, and use taxes to incentivize the establishment of qualified data centers in Rhode Island. It directly affects developers and operators of data centers that meet specific criteria defined in the bill. The key mechanism is granting these tax exemptions for eligible costs related to constructing or operating qualifying facilities, including equipment and infrastructure. This policy change reduces financial barriers for data center projects by lowering their operational tax burden.

Establishes a fund to support children’s community-based providers’ infrastructure changes necessary and related to the state’s Medicaid transformation initiative.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to support the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program.

Expands the deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program in the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to include adoptive parent(s) or siblings(s).

Requires the EOHHS to amend the state Medicaid plan and secure sufficient state general revenue to increase Medicaid payment rates to an amount equal to one hundred thirty percent (130%) of Medicare rates for outpatient clinical pediatric services.

Exempts individual retirement accounts as a countable resource for public assistance. This act also prohibits the state as a creditor against an ABLE account in the event of death of a beneficiary.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates an additional $117,600 to implement rate increases recommended by Rhode Island's health insurance commissioner. It directly affects the state's health insurance oversight office, providing funding to support commissioner-approved premium adjustments for insurers. The key mechanism is a budgetary allocation to cover these rate changes, ensuring the commissioner's recommendations can be executed. This is a procedural funding measure, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates election nomination procedures by establishing an online portal where voters can electronically sign nomination papers for party and independent candidates. The legislation modifies existing state laws to allow digital signatures to count toward the required number of endorsements needed to qualify a candidate for the ballot. It applies to candidates for various offices, including governor, state representatives, and local positions, while maintaining the same signature thresholds as traditional paper forms. The bill also clarifies rules for how nomination papers are prepared, distributed, and verified, including provisions for candidates who cannot write their own signatures. These changes aim to modernize the nomination process while keeping the core requirements for candidate qualification intact.

Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause.