Rep. Robert Craven

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the 84th anniversary of the Seabees, the United States Navy construction forces, on March 5, 2026. It formally congratulates the Seabees for their service and authorizes the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. The document highlights the Seabees' historical contributions during World War II and subsequent conflicts, recognizing their role in building vital infrastructure under challenging conditions.

Bars police from wearing masks or disguises when interacting with the public, require visible ID, allow limited safety and undercover exceptions, and impose criminal penalties and civil liability for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 7352, the Rhode Island Civil Rights Enforcement Act, creates a legal remedy for individuals whose constitutional rights are violated by state or local government entities (including cities, counties, or state agencies). It allows residents or individuals within Rhode Island to sue the government directly for compensation when rights are deprived under color of law, without needing to first sue individual employees. Key provisions include a $500,000 cap on compensatory damages for most claims (adjustable annually for inflation), no punitive damages against the state, and the attorney general’s authority to enforce the law. The law applies immediately upon passage, with claims needing to be filed within three years of the violation.

Extends time for a party to apply for stay of arbitration to180 days; invalidates any provision that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation; requires arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees.

Maddy summaryHB 7750 would allow plaintiffs in civil lawsuits to seek punitive damages when defendants acted with "willful or wanton conduct" or showed "reckless disregard" for health, safety, or welfare. This applies to cases like wrongful death claims (under Title 10, Chapter 7) and requires evidence proving the defendant knew or should have known their actions were dangerous. The bill defines "willful or wanton conduct" as heedless, reckless behavior ignoring consequences or others' safety. It directly affects plaintiffs pursuing civil claims against parties whose actions caused foreseeable harm through intentional or grossly negligent behavior. The law would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 7749 repeals the collateral source rule in medical malpractice cases, meaning defendants would no longer be allowed to introduce evidence of insurance or workers' compensation benefits the plaintiff received to reduce the damage award. This directly affects plaintiffs and defendants in medical malpractice lawsuits, as it would prevent courts from lowering awarded damages based on payments already received by the plaintiff from third parties (like health insurance or disability programs). The bill removes the current mechanism where defendants could show such benefits to reduce damages, and plaintiffs could counter with their own contributions to secure those benefits. If enacted, plaintiffs would receive full damage awards without deductions for pre-existing insurance benefits, while defendants could not offset payments through collateral sources.

Changes the definition of owner to exclude the state and municipalities for the purposes of liability limitations relating to public use of private lands.

Provides that a certificate be provided for every contract for the purchase and sale of real estate certifying that the property has a functioning on-site wastewater treatment system or a sewer connection and not a cesspool.

Maddy summaryHB 7422, the Rhode Island Clean Air Preservation Act, bans specific atmospheric experiments including solar radiation modification (SRM), cloud seeding, and other weather engineering activities that release pollutants like PFAS ("forever chemicals"). The bill prohibits entities - such as government agencies, corporations, or research organizations - from conducting these experiments, citing risks of harmful pollutants, drought, and increased wildfire hazards. Key provisions define "atmospheric activity" broadly to cover AI-driven or machine-learning systems involved in such experiments, and list banned methods like stratospheric aerosol injection and marine cloud brightening. The law directly affects any organization conducting atmospheric interventions in Rhode Island, requiring compliance with the new prohibition.

Maddy summaryHB 7545 allows owners of dogs or cats (defined as "pets" kept in households) to seek financial compensation if their pet is intentionally or negligently injured or killed under specific conditions. It sets minimum damages at $500 for injury and $750 for death, with a maximum of $7,500 for noneconomic losses like emotional harm, but only if the incident occurred on the owner's property or during their supervision. The law excludes government entities or their employees acting in public welfare roles from liability under this provision. It does not cover veterinary costs or other economic damages, focusing solely on emotional loss.