Proposes a bond measure authorizing the State of Rhode Island to issue up to $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to fund coastal preparedness and resilience projects.
Directs the general assembly to fund ten full time equivalent positions in FY 2027 to support DEM's efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.
Creates and establishes the Health Care and Social Services Transaction Review and Significant Equity Investor Disclosure Act designed to enhance disclosure for material changes involving significant equity investors.
Permits healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients remotely with store-and-forward technology when provision of services in such manner is consistent with the standard of care.
Maddy summaryHB 7273 requires the state to join and implement the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact by July 1, 2026. This allows out-of-state doctors to more easily provide telemedicine services to patients within the state, expanding access to remote healthcare. The bill specifically enables patients to receive telemedicine care from licensed providers in other states through the compact. It also directs health agencies to create necessary rules for this process, directly affecting healthcare providers seeking multi-state practice and patients seeking remote medical care.
Maddy summaryHB 7274 allows physician assistants (PAs) to practice without needing a physician's direct supervision and permits them to receive Medicaid payments directly for services provided. The bill amends licensing rules to remove the requirement for written agreements with supervising physicians and clarifies that PAs can provide medical services within their scope without physician oversight. It also adds a new provision requiring Medicaid to pay PAs directly, rather than through a physician's billing, for services rendered. This affects PAs by expanding their practice autonomy and Medicaid patients by potentially increasing access to care from PAs. The changes take effect upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the construction, expansion, or operation of pyrolysis facilities within one mile of any public or private K-12 school. It defines pyrolysis facilities as sites that thermally break down solid waste like plastics to produce fuel or oil in an oxygen-limited environment. To enforce this rule, the state's environmental management department cannot issue permits for such facilities that do not meet the distance requirement, and the restriction cannot be waived by any authority. The law takes effect upon passage and applies to all schools approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Exempts from the sales tax eligible school supplies, costing less than $50.00, purchased within one week prior to the commencement of the academic year.
Maddy summaryHB 8124, titled the "Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026," creates a new legislative framework for supporting staffing at Rhode Island Veterans Homes. The bill, introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Veterans Affairs committee, directly affects state-operated veterans homes and their staffing needs. The provided context does not specify the exact mechanisms or provisions of the bill (e.g., funding methods, staffing ratios, or eligibility criteria), only its title and introduction date. Further details about its concrete policy changes would require access to the full bill text or committee summaries.
Establishes the commercial sex buyer’s accountability program which consists of an instructional program on prostitution and human trafficking schemes.
