Rep. Pat Serpa

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special legislative commission to study the need for establishing an Office of the Elder Advocate in Rhode Island. The commission will consist of thirteen members, including representatives from the legislature, legal organizations, senior advocacy groups, and older adults, who will meet to examine unmet needs and existing systems for protecting older residents. The group will provide recommendations on the structure, powers, and funding for such an office and must submit its final report to the House of Representatives by March 15, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 7702 modifies Rhode Island's personal income tax calculation by adding back certain federal tax exclusions to residents' adjusted gross income. It specifically requires adding nonqualified withdrawals from tuition savings programs (e.g., withdrawals not used for education costs) and federal PPP loan forgiveness exceeding $250,000. The bill also allows a deduction of up to $500 ($1,000 for joint filers) for contributions to Rhode Island's tuition savings program, subject to limits like excluding rollovers or non-participant contributions. This directly affects residents using tuition savings accounts or receiving federal stimulus funds, altering their taxable income for state tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 7703 suspends the 4% gross earnings tax on electric and gas utility companies until January 1, 2036. This directly affects corporations primarily engaged in electricity generation/sale or gas distribution, reducing their tax burden during this period. The bill amends tax law to temporarily halt this specific 4% tax rate (previously applied to electricity/gas companies) starting January 1, 2027. The suspension covers all gross earnings from these core utility services, excluding related deductions for wholesale sales. The policy change provides a fixed tax relief period without altering other tax rates for telecommunications or other sectors.

Requires 10% of all rental fees collected by the water resources board pursuant to a lease with the Coventry Pines Golf Club be paid to the town of Coventry and 10% to the Central Coventry Fire District.

Allows the town of Coventry to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

Permits Coventry to require two parking space for each studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom low- or moderate-income housing units upon the determination that limited or no local public transportation or off-street parking availability near these units.

Requires the Rhode Island housing authority to verify and document the count of affordable housing stock in the town of Coventry two (2) times per year.

Sets timelines for Coventry's new construction, including one year for final approval, two (2) years for building permits, and temporary inclusion of units in the town's count until completion or three (3) years, whichever comes first.

Prohibits applications for a comprehensive permit under the Rhode Island comprehensive planning and land use regulation act in any watershed overlay protection district located in the town of Coventry.

Establishes sales and use tax exemptions for commercial forest product operations and creates a new motor vehicle registration for "forestry vehicles".