Rep. Sam Azzinaro

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that designates June 4, 2026, as "Cox Impact Day" in Rhode Island to honor Cox Communications for its charitable contributions. The measure acknowledges the company's history of funding STEM and community programs through Cox Charities and lists specific local organizations that received grants in 2026. It does not alter any laws or policies but serves to publicly recognize the broadband provider's philanthropic efforts in the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to Cox Communications officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates June 2026 as "Men's Mental Health Month" in Rhode Island to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by men. It encourages residents, organizations, and state agencies to promote open conversations, reduce stigma, and support access to care during this month. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to relevant health departments and advocacy groups to help coordinate these efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Family Caregivers Support Act of 2013, aims to protect employees who care for family members from discrimination in the workplace. It makes it illegal for employers to refuse to hire someone, fire them, or penalize them in any way because of their caregiving duties. The law also requires employers to consider requests for flexible schedules or remote work to handle medical appointments and therapy, unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense for the business. Small businesses with fewer than 25 employees have some flexibility if they can prove that meeting these requests would be too burdensome. If a caregiver believes their rights were violated, the Human Rights Commission is authorized to investigate and order remedies such as reinstatement, back pay, and compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 7702 modifies Rhode Island's personal income tax calculation by adding back certain federal tax exclusions to residents' adjusted gross income. It specifically requires adding nonqualified withdrawals from tuition savings programs (e.g., withdrawals not used for education costs) and federal PPP loan forgiveness exceeding $250,000. The bill also allows a deduction of up to $500 ($1,000 for joint filers) for contributions to Rhode Island's tuition savings program, subject to limits like excluding rollovers or non-participant contributions. This directly affects residents using tuition savings accounts or receiving federal stimulus funds, altering their taxable income for state tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 7055 changes how longevity payments (extra pay for years of service) are handled for certain state employees in Rhode Island. Starting July 1, 2026, non-classified state employees under grade 19 (excluding faculty) will be able to negotiate these payments through collective bargaining agreements, reversing a 2011 ban. The bill specifies payments cannot be counted toward base salary and clarifies rules for employees with existing agreements. It applies to employees of the Board of Governors for Higher Education, Board of Regents for Elementary/Secondary Education, and other state departments. This is a policy change to allow future negotiations, not a new benefit.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially designates May 2026 as 'Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month' in Rhode Island. It aims to raise public understanding of these chronic conditions by encouraging awareness and education activities throughout the state. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to acknowledge the partnership.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2026 as National Military Appreciation Month within the State of Rhode Island. It formally recognizes the sacrifices of current and former military service members, as well as their families, by highlighting various observances held throughout the month. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to the Governor and the Adjutant General to officially implement this commemoration.

Provides that certain Hmong or Lao individuals who served honorably in military operations in support of the United States as special guerrilla units be granted burial rights at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Establishes the office of inspector general to investigate the management and operation of agencies in an effort to prevent and deter fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

Increase the estate exemption to $5,000,000 for January 1, 2027, $7,500,000 for January 1, 2029, $10,000,000 for January 1, 2031. This act would eliminate the estate tax for decedents whose death occurs on or after January 1, 2033.