Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.
Precludes a legal entity from owning property whose value is over $25,000,000. If the property value exceeds $25,000,000, then the entity must divest a graduated yearly amount over the next 10 years, until value is less than $25,000,000.
Maddy summaryHB 7981 establishes ranked choice voting (RCV) for municipal elections in jurisdictions where voters approve a charter amendment. It directly affects municipalities that adopt charter changes through voter approval, requiring RCV to be used in subsequent municipal elections. The bill's key mechanism is automatic implementation: once a municipality's charter amendment passes with voter support, RCV becomes the default voting method for local elections. This applies to all municipal elections held under the new charter, without requiring additional legislative action. The bill is currently in the early stage of the legislative process, having been introduced on February 27, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 7232 establishes fusion voting in Rhode Island, allowing candidates to run as nominees of multiple political parties for the same office. Candidates must formally accept each party's nomination in writing, and ballots will display their name under each participating party line. Voters can select the candidate using any party line they appear on, with all votes combined into a single total for the candidate. This directly affects candidates seeking multi-party nominations and voters casting ballots in elections for state and local offices. The bill requires ballot designs and voting equipment to clearly display fusion voting options while preventing duplicate votes.
Creates the Rhode Island clean heat standards act to implement a system of tradeable clean heat credits earned from the delivery of clean heat measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Requires health insurance commissioner to conduct a review of health insurance benefit mandates, including an analysis of the impact on premium costs, conducted every 5 yrs and report findings and recommendations to governor, senate president and speaker.
Requires correctional staff to wear and activate body cameras, set rules for recording and access, create an independent oversight board, mandate training and reporting, and establish a grant funded pilot program.
Prohibits insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the executive office of health and human services.
Maddy summaryHB 7727 establishes a 15-member commission to study policies and procurement structures for Rhode Island's offshore wind energy development, aiming to secure 1,200 megawatts by 2030. The commission will evaluate key areas including procurement authority, cost containment, workforce development, infrastructure needs, and multi-state coordination, with annual reports due starting in 2027. Its recommendations will guide the state's energy office in creating regulations to implement procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with climate goals and economic development priorities. The commission expires December 31, 2030, unless extended by the legislature.
Requires annual inspections of those assisted living residences which contain units licensed to treat residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
