Rep. Kathleen Fogarty

Would extend the reporting and expiration dates, and amend the commission’s purpose to include glass and aluminum products, and increase the membership to twenty (20), and would report back by April 25, 2025, and expire on April 30, 2025.

Implements a grant program to fund public or private partnerships that provide opportunities for healthcare paraprofessionals to pursue higher education degrees and health professional licensure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act to officially include mobile and manufactured homes as a form of affordable housing under specific conditions. To qualify, these homes must serve as a primary residence, be located on land owned by the resident or a community they own, have been built after June 15, 1976, and meet federal safety standards. The legislation also updates the state's definition of affordable housing to ensure it covers various types of year-round living arrangements, including those accepting rental vouchers. By making this change, the law expands the scope of housing inventory that local communities can count toward their affordable housing goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Rhode Island-Ireland trade commission to promote economic ties and mutual interests between the two regions. The seven-member advisory group will be appointed by the governor, the Senate president, and the House speaker, with members serving unpaid terms of two to four years. The commission will research trade opportunities, facilitate business and academic exchanges, and submit annual written reports with recommendations to state leaders. It is authorized to raise its own funds through donations and grants to cover administrative expenses and will operate under state open meetings laws.

Maddy summaryHB 7350 establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact, a new agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. This legislation directly affects social work professionals who wish to move between states or provide telehealth services to clients in different jurisdictions, as well as the state agencies that regulate these professions. The bill creates a commission to manage the compact and maintain a shared database of licensure and disciplinary records, while ensuring that each state retains the authority to protect public health and safety. By eliminating the need for separate licenses in every state, the measure aims to reduce administrative burdens, improve access to social work services, and better support military families.

Specifies the requirements and procedures for licensing lactation counselors as well as the renewal, expiration, termination, refusal, revocation and suspension of licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Rhode Island's rules for mammogram reports to ensure they follow federal standards for notifying patients about dense breast tissue. It requires healthcare facilities to include specific language in mammography summaries that explains what dense tissue is, notes its potential impact on cancer detection, and suggests discussing additional screening options like ultrasound or MRI with a doctor. The change directly affects women who receive mammograms in the state and the medical facilities that perform these exams. By adopting these national reporting standards, the law aims to provide consistent information to patients regarding their breast density and associated health considerations.

Adopts a counseling compact for the interstate practice of licensed professional counselors by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses governed and administrated by commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests HealthSource RI to form a working group that studies how to make health insurance more affordable for Rhode Islanders in the individual market. The group will examine options to lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, particularly as federal financial support is set to expire in 2025. Members of the working group will include government officials, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and consumer advocates. The group must submit its recommendations and proposed funding sources to state leaders by January 31, 2025.

Adopts the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact and would establish a joint public agency known as the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact commission to administer the provisions of the compact between the states.