Requires the DOH and the EOHHS to collaborate with community health centers to establish new programs designed to attract federal funds, with a focus on the utilization of Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education programs.
Provides that any school teaching sexual education to students shall provide the sexual education curriculum to every parent or guardian of a student, and the parent or legal guardian shall consent to the teaching of such sexual education curriculum.
Maddy summaryThis House Resolution expresses the deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences of the Rhode Island House of Representatives on the passing of the Honorable Dominick J. Ruggerio, who served as President of the Rhode Island Senate. It directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of the resolution to his family and friends.
Prohibits the distribution, transfer, or possession of any material that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Provides that fees for costs charged for search, retrieval or copying of public records shall be waived for members of the general assembly who certify that they are acting in their official capacity.
Maddy summaryHB 5177, known as "Harter's Law," extends the civil statute of limitations for individuals who have suffered injuries resulting from first-degree child abuse. This bill changes the time limit for bringing a civil lawsuit from the standard three years to thirty-five years after the cause of action accrues. For a child, this thirty-five-year period does not begin until they turn eighteen years old. This policy directly affects survivors of first-degree child abuse by giving them significantly more time to pursue legal action for their injuries.
Increases minimum sentence for first degree sexual assault and provides first 10 years of a sentence for first degree sexual assault not be subject to a suspension or deferment of sentence.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 5877 amends the state's "Access to Public Records" law. Its primary provision requires that public records maintained in a computer storage system be provided to any requester at no charge. This change directly impacts both individuals and entities seeking government information, as well as the public bodies responsible for maintaining and releasing these electronic records. The bill also reinforces existing requirements for public bodies regarding record inspection, copying, and establishing clear procedures for responding to requests.
Maddy summaryHB 5663 requires state law enforcement agencies (including sheriffs' offices and the department of corrections) to honor all detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill mandates that these agencies hold individuals in custody until federal immigration authorities take custody, without exception for the detainer requests. It directly affects people detained by state law enforcement who receive an ICE detainer, as it would prevent their release until ICE arrives. This bill does not change immigration law but alters how state agencies handle federal immigration detainers.
Maddy summaryHB 5401 removes pet care services (such as grooming, boarding, and daycare) from the list of taxable services under Rhode Island's sales tax law. This change means pet care businesses will no longer have to collect sales tax on their services, directly affecting these providers and their customers. The bill repeals the specific reference to "pet care services (812910)" in the tax code that previously included them under taxable services. Veterinary and testing laboratory services remain taxable, as they were excluded from this repeal. The policy change would take effect upon the bill's passage.
