Rep. Megan Cotter

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $40,000 from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for participation in the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC). The NFFPC is a mutual aid agreement among seven New England states, New York, and five Canadian provinces that allows states to share firefighting resources during large wildfires. Rhode Island uses this compact to access specialized equipment and personnel from other jurisdictions when local resources are overwhelmed, and this funding covers the state's share of costs for wages, transportation, and maintenance when requesting assistance. The bill does not change the compact's rules but ensures Rhode Island meets its financial obligations under the existing agreement.

Amends chapter 80 of the public laws of 1965 with respect to the composition of the regional district school building committee, apportionment of construction and operating costs and amendments to the agreement.

Allows advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians who are and are not licensed in Rhode Island to provide telemedicine services to patients who are in the state when those services are rendered.

Authorizes pharmacists to order, perform and interpret CLIA-waived tests authorized by statewide protocol and prescribe medications, and permits coverage by all health insurance carriers.

Allows foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.

Maddy summaryHB 8197 exempts the purchase of new or used bicycles and bicycle parts from state sales and use taxes. This directly affects consumers buying bikes or parts, as well as retailers selling them, by removing a tax burden on these items. The bill’s key mechanism is amending the tax code to specifically exclude bicycles and parts from taxable sales, simplifying the tax treatment for these goods. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee.

Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

Maddy summaryHR 8206 is a joint resolution appropriating $50,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for new firefighting equipment. It directly funds the purchase of forestry hoses, specifically for use by DEM's forestry or fire management units. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Finance Committee. This is a straightforward budgetary request with no broader policy changes or public impact beyond the specified equipment purchase.

Submits the state's 2026 capital development program relating to green bonds requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $60,000,000 for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026.

Establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies; and provided further, the account would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.