Rep. Pat Serpa

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how inmates and probationers can earn time off their sentences for good behavior. It specifically removes the ability to earn good time credits from individuals on probation for driving under the influence that resulted in death, as well as those convicted of certain serious felonies like murder and sexual offenses. For other prisoners and probationers, the legislation outlines existing rules allowing them to receive sentence reductions for following institutional rules, participating in work programs, and completing rehabilitation courses. The changes apply to all current and future cases but only award credits prospectively from the date the law is enacted.

Requires persons convicted of driving under influence or refusal to submit to chemical test, have an ignition interlock system installed in vehicle as part of sentence and to pay an assessment to pay for the interlock systems.

Applies to electric generating facilities generating electricity on/after 1/1/25 regarding sale/transmission of electricity/facility restructing/last-resort service.

Maddy summaryHB 8100 increases penalties for drivers causing serious injury or death in vehicle accidents by creating a single, higher penalty range for all such offenses. It replaces multiple existing penalty tiers with one unified, stricter sentencing structure. This directly affects drivers convicted of causing serious bodily injury or death through negligent or reckless driving. The bill focuses on standardizing and raising consequences for these severe traffic incidents without altering accident reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 8082 updates expungement rules for criminal records to align with a new 10-year lookback period specifically for DUI convictions. It directly affects individuals with past DUI charges who now qualify for record expungement if their offense occurred within the last decade. The bill modifies existing expungement laws to ensure they match this updated time frame for DUI cases, making the process consistent for those eligible. This change applies only to DUI-related convictions under the revised timeline.

Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Restore the rights of school administrators and staff members, who have retired to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment and work up to one hundred eighty (180) days during a school year.

Provides that retirees in the state pension system receive cost of living adjustments compounded into the retiree’s total retirement benefits each year beginning January 1, 2026. This act would be prospective only.

Amends the current law on teacher’s creditable service so that a teacher who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year would be given credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 school days.

Maddy summaryHB 7162 would modify Rhode Island's personal income tax calculation by allowing the exclusion of public pension benefits administered by the Employees Retirement System from federal adjusted gross income. This change directly affects state and local government retirees who receive pensions through the Employees Retirement System. The key provision adjusts how these pension payments are treated for tax purposes, effectively reducing taxable income for eligible recipients. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after its January 16, 2026, introduction.