Authorizes the city of Central Falls, via home rule charter or city ordinance, to create a school board with all powers and duties thereto, to govern the Central Falls school district.
Maddy summaryHB 5695 allows municipalities to hold local tax amnesty events once every three years, enabling residents to avoid late fees on overdue real estate, property, and vehicle taxes. The bill permits cities to create two separate 60-day periods annually (during 2024-2025) where taxpayers can submit written requests to waive interest and penalties. It excludes taxes owed for the current tax year during amnesty periods and requires tax officials to provide written decisions, with appeals to city councils within 10 days if denied. This directly affects taxpayers with overdue local tax payments and gives municipalities a structured process to encourage payment without penalties.
Maddy summaryHB 5158 removes the requirement for applicants to pass a standardized written exam to become a licensed clinical social worker in Rhode Island, effective until August 15, 2030. This change directly affects social workers seeking clinical licensure in the state, eliminating a key barrier to entry. The bill also directs the licensing board to consider accommodations for non-English speakers and explore alternative qualification paths to better serve Rhode Island's diverse communities. The law aims to increase access to licensure while maintaining other qualification standards like education and experience.
Prohibits credit reporting, executions, attachments against a principal residence for judgments based on medical debt. Defines medical debt as an amount for the receipt of health care services, products, or devices.
Requires that every institution of higher education provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member on the institution's campus.
Maddy summaryHB 5421 requires all school buses in the state to be equipped with live digital video monitoring systems that record license plates, location, time, and date of traffic violations. School districts must install these systems on new buses starting July 1, 2027, and on all buses by July 1, 2032. The systems enable remote monitoring of drivers passing stopped school buses, with violations documented through video evidence and processed via traffic tribunals. This directly affects school bus operators, drivers who violate stop-arm laws, and local governments handling enforcement and fines.
Prohibits an individual who is licensed as both a Rhode Island real estate agent and mortgage loan originator to be compensated for both the sale of the property and the origination or referral of the loan in securing the property.
Makes technical amendments to the RI life science hub regarding the terms of the directors, advisory committees, powers, disposition of hub assets upon termination, and tax status as a governmental unit which is a separate legal entity from the state.
Clarifies roles and regulatory authority for the administration of the program involving the repurposing of vacant schools for housing, extends the deadline for conducting feasibility studies and expands access to all municipalities.
Maddy summaryHB 5370 provides property tax exemptions or credits for veterans, gold star parents (families of fallen service members), visually impaired individuals, and elderly residents in Rhode Island. The bill amends property tax laws to allow local towns and cities to set specific exemption amounts (ranging from $1,000 to $40,500) based on their ordinances, with some municipalities like North Kingstown offering $10,000 exemptions or $200 tax credits. These benefits apply to the property owner's primary residence or qualifying real property within their municipality, subject to residency requirements and local council approval. The law directly affects eligible residents who meet service or disability criteria, reducing their annual property tax burden.
