Rep. Earl Read

Maddy summaryHB 7520 expands underinsured motorist coverage to include property damage (such as vehicle damage) alongside bodily injury, which currently only covers bodily injury for underinsured drivers. This change would directly affect car owners who suffer property damage in accidents with drivers carrying insurance but with limits below the damages owed. The bill establishes a $200 deductible for property damage claims under this expanded coverage and allows insureds to opt out of property damage coverage if they have collision insurance. It also clarifies that "underinsured" includes drivers with insufficient coverage limits and ensures subrogation rights for insurers.

Strengthens school security measures, including the establishment of a RI school emergency response committee to develop additional recommendations for school security measures and requiring an annual school safety assessment by all school districts.

Creates three (3) new awards for Rhode Island National Guard members and would provide eligibility for the Rhode Island star for certain civilian government employees and military and civilian leaders of foreign governments.

Defines "military-connected student" and permits military-connected students to enroll by remote registration upon presentation of military orders confirming the parent or guardian be stationed in this state during the current or following school year.

Creates a program through which fire departments and fire districts are notified of locations of registrants of electric and hybrid motor vehicles can register their vehicles with their local fire department or fire district.

Creates a new registration plate for qualified individuals to possess an "adaptive vehicle license plate" to accommodate the transportation needs of an individual with a significant mobility impairment.

Maddy summaryHB 7416 would grant automatic admission to Rhode Island's public colleges and universities (URI, RIC, CCRI) for state residents who earned the Eagle Scout rank (Scouting America) or Gold Award (Girl Scouts of the USA), starting in Fall 2026. Applicants must meet basic application requirements but won't need to satisfy competitive academic thresholds. The law explicitly excludes specialized programs like nursing or engineering from automatic admission (requiring program-specific qualifications) and clarifies it doesn't guarantee financial aid or change residency rules.

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 8603 amends Rhode Island driver education laws to exempt individuals in foster or adoptive homes from paying tuition fees for driver's education classes at the Community College of Rhode Island. This financial relief is funded by the Department of Children, Youth and Families and applies specifically to eligible youth receiving foster caregiving as defined by state regulations. The bill does not alter the existing curriculum, which includes instruction on alcohol and drug effects, distracted driving, and marijuana impairment, but rather removes the cost barrier for this specific group of students. By waiving enrollment fees, the legislation aims to ensure that foster and adoptive youth have equal access to the required thirty-three hours of classroom instruction needed to obtain a driver's license.

Maddy summaryHB 7585 expands eligibility for the state's crime victim compensation program to include hit-and-run victims who suffer serious bodily injury. The bill amends the existing law to explicitly add "failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in serious bodily injury or death" as a qualifying offense under the program. This change directly affects victims of hit-and-run collisions where the driver flees the scene and causes serious injury, allowing them to seek financial compensation through the current program. The policy change modifies the list of qualifying offenses without creating new funding or altering program administration.