Allows an owner or owners of real property to execute a deed that names one or more beneficiaries who will obtain title to the property at the owner's death without the necessity of probate.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal pathway for distillery manufacturers to obtain a special permit that allows them to sell and serve their own distilled spirits at off-site events like weddings, corporate functions, and festivals. Under the new provisions, distilleries would need to use mobile bar units or temporary service structures and follow strict rules including responsible service training, ID verification for younger patrons, and limits on the number of drinks served per person. The legislation also requires distilleries to purchase alcohol from licensed retailers unless they hold a wholesale license, and it prohibits serving any spirits other than those manufactured by the licensed distillery.
Allows a brewery to sell, deliver, and distribute its own malt beverages directly to retailers without using a wholesaler. The holder of a license for a brewery may also have 1 additional location for the retail sale of alcohol.
Maddy summaryHB 7570 establishes the Rhode Island Center for Employee Ownership (RICEO) to help small businesses transition to employee-owned models. The center, housed under the state’s business development office, provides referrals to legal/financial resources, partners with organizations to promote employee ownership benefits, and creates an inventory of existing employee-owned businesses (like worker cooperatives and ESOPs). It directly affects small business owners nearing retirement (56% are 55+ in RI) and their employees by offering support for succession planning. Key mechanisms include technical assistance, outreach programming, and measuring business stability outcomes. The bill does not create new taxes or regulations but coordinates state resources to address small business succession challenges.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows caterers with a Class P license to purchase alcoholic beverages from either retail or wholesale stores in Rhode Island, expanding their sourcing options beyond previous restrictions. It requires caterers to follow specific service rules, including ID checks for under-30 guests, limiting drinks to two at a time, prohibiting shots, and serving only during five-hour event windows. Caterers may also leave alcohol at an event host's residence if under their continuous control during the event. Violations carry $500 fines and risk license revocation.
Maddy summaryHB 7917 requires all Rhode Island state agencies and state-funded organizations (like public authorities) to integrate the state’s December 2025 climate strategy report into their annual budgets, capital plans, and strategic documents starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that each budget or project submission include a specific emissions impact assessment (showing if it reduces, maintains, or increases emissions) and a certification signed by the agency head confirming compliance. Non-compliant submissions will be rejected by the Office of Management and Budget, and agencies must publicly post their assessments and certifications. This law directly affects how state funds are allocated, ensuring all major spending aligns with Rhode Island’s legally binding climate targets.
Affords an option for police and firefighters to receive retirement allowances, without reduction, who seek retirement after twenty (20) years of service, upon reaching age fifty-seven (57).
Maddy summaryHB 8119 prohibits state law enforcement agencies and other entities from purchasing personal data without a warrant for any criminal, civil, or investigatory activity. It directly affects government agencies that might otherwise buy location records, browsing history, or other sensitive personal information from third-party data brokers. The bill’s key provision requires a court-issued warrant before any agency can obtain such data, aligning with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. This applies to all enforcement actions, including investigations into crimes or civil matters, without exception.
Maddy summaryHB 7950 regulates prescription drug price increases in Rhode Island by imposing a penalty on manufacturers who raise prices without new clinical evidence. It targets "identified drugs" with "unsupported price increases" as determined by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). Manufacturers face an 80% penalty on the revenue difference between actual sales and what they would have earned at the prior year's wholesale cost (adjusted for inflation), but only if their annual sales exceed $250,000 in the state. The penalty applies for two years after a drug appears on ICER's annual report of unsupported increases. This directly affects drug manufacturers selling in Rhode Island who implement such price hikes.
Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and includes campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights."
