Requires that student mentors in public schools be certified support educators, ensuring mentors have professional training, established student relationships, and access to skills and information needed to support student success.
Maddy summaryHB 7669 limits early voting to a total of ten nonconsecutive days before an election, specifically including the two weekend days immediately preceding the election plus eight weekdays. This applies to all elections covered under the relevant election laws and directly affects voters seeking to cast ballots early. The bill specifies that early voting periods must not include consecutive days, creating a defined window for early voting. It takes effect upon passage, with no further details provided on implementation or specific election types affected.
Maddy summaryHB 7903 requires schools to create individualized academic plans for students diagnosed with a concussion or other brain injury. This directly affects students recovering from such injuries and their school staff. The key provision mandates that schools develop and implement specific accommodations to support these students' academic needs during recovery. The bill focuses on ensuring students receive necessary educational support following a brain injury diagnosis.
Maddy summaryHB 7341 requires school districts that send students to regional vocational schools for career and technical education (CTE) or pathways programs to receive regular updates on student progress from the receiving district, starting July 1, 2026. It mandates quarterly reports or immediate updates for significant changes, such as a student leaving the program. The bill also adjusts costs: if the receiving district’s program costs less than the home district’s per-pupil spending, the home district only pays the lower cost, and transportation costs are limited to actual expenses. This applies to all students enrolled in approved CTE or pathways programs outside their home district.
Maddy summaryHB 7732, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges to designate athletic teams based solely on biological sex at birth, not gender identity. It mandates that teams for female athletes must be exclusively for students identified as female at birth, verified through medical documentation of reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetics. The bill prohibits schools from facing penalties for maintaining separate female teams and allows affected students to sue if denied athletic opportunities due to this policy. It directly affects female athletes in public school sports programs and the institutions that govern them.
Generates an estate tax discharge upon the recording of a statement by the executor or other estate representative that the value of the decedent’s gross estate does not require a state or federal tax filing.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 2026 as "National Credit Education Month" in Rhode Island to promote financial literacy and responsible credit management. It directly affects consumers, financial institutions, and educational organizations by encouraging workshops, webinars, and seminars on budgeting, saving, and debt management. The resolution specifically commends local groups like RI Jump$tart Coalition and Junior Achievement of Rhode Island for their financial education efforts. The Secretary of State is authorized to send certified copies of the resolution to the National Financial Educators Council to recognize these initiatives.
Maddy summaryHB 7365 proposes a voluntary portable benefit plan for independent contractors, allowing them to access benefits like health insurance or retirement savings that stay with them across different jobs. The bill establishes that contributions to this plan cannot be used to determine employment classification (e.g., employee vs. independent contractor) or affect employer liability for workers' compensation. Key provisions require the plan to be offered through regulated insurance or employment security programs, ensuring benefits remain tied to the individual, not any specific employer. This applies directly to independent contractors and hiring parties who choose to participate, with no mandatory participation for either party. The bill takes effect upon passage and does not create new benefits but enables existing systems to operate portably.
Creates 5 member commission to study the way insurance plans/traditional employer-provided benefits are given to Uber/Lyft drivers, self-directed personal care attendants and others providing services to public, and reports back 1/5/27 and expires 3/5/27.
Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day within the State of Rhode Island. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Governor for formal acknowledgment. The measure commemorates the historical significance of the day, which honors women's rights and gender equality through a global observance established by the United Nations.
