Rep. Evan Shanley

Requires every school bus, including buses used exclusively for to transport students receiving special education, to be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system and retractable stop sign.

Requires every school district to render assistance and cooperation within its jurisdictional power to further the objects of this chapter, to wit, providing the courts with any information concerning a child as the court may require.

Maddy summaryHB 5312 establishes a clear process for filling vacancies in municipal election offices and local canvassing boards. It requires political party chairpersons to submit lists of eligible voters within 30 days of a vacancy, and mandates the mayor or council president to nominate replacements within 30 days of receiving those lists. The bill also clarifies that terms for canvassing board members expire on staggered dates in odd-numbered years, and directs city/town clerks to correct any noncompliant term dates immediately. This procedural bill directly affects cities and towns managing local elections, ensuring continuity in election administration without altering voting rules or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 5144 proposes to change the methodology for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) payments to nursing facilities and other long-term care providers. It authorizes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to review and modify the current system, allowing a shift from a price-based methodology back to a cost-based one. This new system would account for factors like patient needs, facility operating costs, and include regular inflation adjustments. A significant portion of future rate increases would be dedicated to boosting compensation for eligible direct-care workers. The bill also mandates comprehensive rate reviews every three years and establishes incentives for facilities that meet performance benchmarks.

Establishes the Housing Flexible Spending Account Act of 2025 allowing Rhode Island employers to contribute pre-tax income into a housing flexible spending account (H-FSA), for employees to be used for qualified housing expenses.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6294 proclaims May 2025 as "Myositis Awareness Month in the State of Rhode Island." This resolution aims to increase public understanding of myositis, a group of rare muscle-wasting diseases, and encourages Rhode Islanders to learn more about the condition and support affected families.

Maddy summaryHB 5736 amends existing law concerning public health dental hygienists, primarily to expand the sources from which they can receive reimbursement for their services. Currently, these hygienists are largely limited to reimbursement from Medicaid or state healthcare insurance programs. The bill would permit public health dental hygienists, or the agencies they work for, to seek reimbursement from "other insurance" or third-party payors, including Medicare. This applies to services provided in public health settings such as schools, nursing homes, and community health centers, often performed without immediate dentist supervision under a collaborative agreement. The bill also maintains requirements for patient consent and referrals for further dental examinations.

Maddy summaryHB 5529 aims to expand eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs, which assist low-income seniors and people with disabilities with their Medicare costs. It raises the income limit for the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program to 138% of the federal poverty line, allowing more individuals to receive state assistance for Medicare Part A and B premiums and cost-sharing. Additionally, the bill establishes a "Qualified Individual" category for those with incomes between 138% and 186% of the federal poverty line, for whom the state would cover Medicare Part B premiums, contingent on full federal funding. This expansion seeks to improve access to medical services and enhance financial security for eligible Medicare enrollees.

Mandates all health insurance contracts from January 1, 2026, to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, sterilization, contraception counseling, follow-up services, and a twelve-month supply for Medicaid recipients.

Maddy summaryHB 5749, "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act," amends the method for determining the state's share of education funding for local school districts. The bill updates the formula used to calculate a district's state aid, considering its revenue-generating capacity and the concentration of high-need students, including those in charter and state schools. It also increases the support available to districts through a poverty loss stabilization fund. Specifically, if a district's state share of aid declines significantly, the amount received from this fund would increase from 50% to 75% of the difference. These changes aim to adjust how state education funding is allocated to districts.