Rep. Evan Shanley

Maddy summaryHB 7549 makes assaulting a sports official (such as an umpire, referee, or coach) during their duties a felony, directly affecting anyone who commits such violence at any athletic event - from school games to professional leagues. The bill establishes two penalty tiers: a standard assault carries up to 3 years in prison or a $3,000 fine, while assault causing serious bodily injury (like permanent disfigurement or life-threatening harm) results in 3-20 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. It also mandates that offenders pay restitution to victims or complete up to 500 hours of community service, in addition to any fines or prison time. This law applies to assaults occurring before, during, or after any sporting event.

Increases penalties for a second or subsequent offense with a fine of not less than $500 or no more than $2,500 and up to 2 years imprisonment, for violating the law on the care of dogs.

Car rental company not subject to registration penalties resulting from out-of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles but are responsible for any outstanding toll amounts due.

Limits copays, coinsurance or office deductibles for services of a physical therapist to the amount authorized for the services of a primary care physician or osteopath on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 7336 expands existing uninsured motorist coverage to include property damage (like vehicle damage) alongside bodily injury, which was previously only covered for bodily harm. It requires insurers to offer property damage coverage unless a driver with collision coverage specifically rejects it in writing. The bill mandates insurers to inform policyholders about this coverage option during renewals and sets a $200 deductible for property damage claims. This change directly affects drivers in Rhode Island who need to file claims for property damage caused by underinsured or uninsured drivers.

Maddy summaryHB 7039 sets a maximum 8-hour workday for most state peace officers (defined under §12-7-21) and a 10-hour limit for correctional officer stewards, prohibiting forced overtime except during unforeseeable emergencies like riots. It requires the state to pay affected officers double time and a half if they are compelled to work beyond these limits, with exceptions for true emergencies after exhausting reasonable staffing efforts. The bill directly affects Rhode Island Department of Corrections peace officers, aiming to protect their health and safety while ensuring emergency response flexibility. This policy change takes effect upon passage, with no impact on existing collective bargaining agreements.

Expands the obligations of employers to create, maintain and retain their employees' personnel records, it requires that records be retained for at least 3 years after employee's termination. It also increases the financial penalties for each violation.

Maddy summaryHB 7409 prohibits retail establishments from adding extra fees to customers who pay with credit cards for in-state transactions. It directly affects businesses selling goods or services within the state and their customers. The bill amends deceptive trade practices law to make imposing such credit card surcharges a violation, treating it as deceptive behavior. This policy change eliminates a common practice where businesses charged more for credit card use compared to cash or debit. The law would take effect immediately upon passage.

Effective January 1, 2028, Increases the hourly minimum wage in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region for the previous four (4) fiscal years.

Maddy summaryHB 7038 establishes a uniform $70 fee for most routine court documents, including writs, citations, and subpoenas not specifically listed in existing fee schedules. This change directly affects sheriffs, sergeants, and constables who serve these documents, replacing variable fees with a set rate for unspecified cases. The bill standardizes fees to ensure a minimum $70 charge for these services, with all collected fees deposited as general revenue.