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.
Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.
Maddy summaryHB 7438 extends all extended benefits provided by Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to children placed in guardianship, which currently only applies to foster care. This bill amends DCYF's statutory authority to ensure children in permanent guardianship arrangements receive the same support services as those in foster care. The key mechanism is updating the department's powers to include guardianship under the scope of extended benefits eligibility. This policy change directly affects children under guardianship and their guardians by expanding access to DCYF services. The bill does not alter existing foster care benefits but ensures parity for children in guardianship.
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.
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.
Maddy summaryHB 7425 updates the official terminology in Rhode Island's Naturopathy Act by replacing "doctor of naturopathy" with "naturopathic doctor" throughout all relevant sections of the law. This change standardizes the title used for licensed practitioners and appears in definitions, scope-of-practice descriptions, and licensing requirements. It directly affects licensed naturopaths who must now use the updated title "naturopathic doctor" (or "ND" designation) in professional practice, while maintaining the same scope of permitted services like natural substance dispensing and health counseling. The bill does not alter the practice rules or restrictions outlined in the original 2017 Act.
Maddy summaryHB 7459 would change the retirement eligibility rule for public school teachers from a "Rule of 95" to a "Rule of 93." Under the current rule, teachers must reach an age plus years of service totaling 95 to retire early; this bill lowers that threshold to 93. The change would allow eligible teachers to retire sooner if their age plus years of service equals 93 instead of 95. This directly affects teachers covered under the state's existing retirement statutes for public education employees.
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.
Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally congratulates Colonel Michael Lima on his appointment as the 15th Police Chief of Warwick, Rhode Island. It highlights his 21-year career with the Warwick Police Department, his educational background, and his commitment to community engagement and improved mental health resources for officers. The resolution was passed by the Rhode Island House of Representatives on January 27, 2026, and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to Chief Lima. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not enact any new policy or affect legal obligations.
