Rep. Joe Shekarchi

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 7000) commemorates Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, two Brown University students killed in a December 13, 2025, shooting, and acknowledges nine injured students. It formally honors their memory, offers condolences to their families, condemns the violence, and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to their families. The resolution has no policy changes or funding provisions; it is a commemorative statement.

Repeals the exemption granted to pari-mutuel facilities and casinos from the smoke free workplace requirement and provides for a one time appropriate of $1,000,000 to inform patrons of the smoke free policy within the casino.

Maddy summaryHB 5803 creates a standardized online permitting platform for all state and local building permits, zoning applications, and related services (including environmental and transportation permits) across Rhode Island. It requires local municipalities and state agencies to use this electronic system for processing applications, plan reviews, inspections, and fee collection by December 2013. The bill establishes new fees: 0.1% of construction costs for commercial permits and 0.2% for residential permits (capped at $100), with 50% of residential fees funding contractor training programs for minority businesses. These fees will fund the platform’s development and maintenance, replacing paper-based processes with a uniform statewide system.

Amends the composition of the building code standards committee and would make several technical amendments relative to the building code office and would establish a state building code office within the office of state fire marshal.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) passed by the Rhode Island House of Representatives. It formally celebrates the 30th anniversary of Father Bernard A. Healey's ordination to the priesthood on June 24, 1995. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send Father Healey a certified copy of the resolution. It directly affects Father Healey as the recipient of this symbolic honor, recognizing his decades of service to Rhode Island communities through the Catholic Church.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural House resolution congratulating Dr. Rosemary Costigan on her appointment as President of the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). It formally recognizes her as the first alumna and second woman to lead CCRI, highlighting her 30+ years of service at the college - including roles as nursing faculty, department chair, interim president, and her leadership in securing accreditation and major donations. The resolution has no policy impact or funding provisions; it is solely a ceremonial acknowledgment of her career achievements. The House passed it on June 20, 2025, and will send a certified copy to Dr. Costigan.

Maddy summaryHR 6327 is a joint resolution rejecting 11 proposed salary increases for unclassified service directors of Rhode Island state executive departments. It directly affects 11 department directors whose salary adjustments were referred to the General Assembly by the Department of Administration under state law (RIGL § 36-4-16.4). The resolution formally rejects these specific proposals, preventing the increases from taking effect. The bill passed the House on May 13, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.

Makes all causes of action based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child not subject to any statute of limitations whether the claim has lapsed or was previously time-barred.

Maddy summaryHB 6298 proposes three charter amendments for Warwick, pending voter approval in 2026. It would allow electronic notice for special council meetings (replacing current in-person/residence-only notice), raise the small procurement threshold from $2,500 to an adjustable amount via city ordinance (affecting purchasing decisions under $2,500), and require the city council to establish via ordinance how minority party members are appointed to city boards/commissions (using a list provided by the minority party leader). If approved by voters, these changes would take effect, streamlining meeting notifications, giving the council flexibility on procurement rules, and formalizing minority representation on boards. The bill passed both chambers and became law without the governor's signature but requires voter approval for the charter changes to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 6320 requires that in the city of Warwick, the tax rate for Class 1 property (typically residential) cannot be less than 57% of the tax rate for Class 2 property (typically commercial). This establishes a fixed ratio between the two property classes, ensuring Class 1 rates are proportionally lower but not arbitrarily set. The bill directly affects property owners in Warwick, as it governs how local property taxes are classified and applied by the city assessor. It applies retroactively to the December 31, 2024, property assessment and became law without the Governor's signature on June 18, 2025.