Prohibits the suspension of any person’s operators’ or chauffeurs’ license or their vehicle registration unless upon conviction of driving offenses.
Provides that parents and guardians of children with disabilities in private school have the same rights and remedies as parents/guardians of children in public school.
Prohibit the family court from detaining any juvenile or committing any juvenile, under the age of 12 years, to the training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses.
Requires employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandates quarterly supervisor training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks.
Adds “space force” to the branches of the military included in various sections of general law regarding the veterans home, veterans cemetery and the power of armed forces officers to take acknowledgements.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating February 11, 2025, as "211 Day" in Rhode Island to honor United Way 211. It recognizes United Way 211 as a free, 24/7 service providing vital connections to health, housing, food, and disaster assistance for Rhode Islanders, including support in nearly 200 languages. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely serves to publicly acknowledge the organization's role in community support and crisis response, noting it handled 213,000 assistance requests in 2024-2025. The House passed it on February 11, 2025, directing the Secretary of State to share certified copies with United Way and partners.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 7-14, 2025, as "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" in Rhode Island, urging residents to recognize the prevalence of congenital heart defects in infants (affecting roughly 1 in 110 births) and support medical efforts. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly impact specific groups - it serves as a symbolic observance to raise public awareness about this health issue.
Provides that original equipment manufacturers, implemented by/with surrogate distributors, of agricultural equipment, provide to independent service providers repair information and tools to maintain and repair electronics-enabled agricultural equipment.
Increases the number of state child care licensing inspectors to meet the national recommended average of one inspector for every fifty (50) to sixty (60) child care providers.
Maddy summaryHB 5396 sets specific caseload limits for Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) workers based on Council on Accreditation (COA) standards, directly affecting child welfare staff and the children/families they serve. It limits workers to 12 active investigations (max 8 new monthly), 14 families for in-home services, 12 children in out-of-home care, and 8 children in treatment foster care. The bill also requires DCYF to conduct annual pay reviews to align staff salaries with New England state averages for similar roles. These provisions aim to prevent staff overload and improve service quality by standardizing workloads and compensation.
