Rep. Megan Cotter

Maddy summaryHB 6166 prohibits sexual harassment in legislative settings, defining it as unwanted sexual advances, requests for favors, or other inappropriate sexual conduct. It applies directly to all individuals involved in legislative work, including lawmakers, all legislative staff (full-time, part-time, temporary), interns, volunteers, and lobbyists. The bill requires complaints to be filed with the Rhode Island Ethics Commission for investigation and mandates annual anti-harassment training for all covered individuals, with completion records made public. Failure to complete training could result in disciplinary actions like warnings, reprimands, or termination.

Maddy summaryHB 6368 prohibits insurance discrimination in Rhode Island health plans by expanding protections to cover race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), age, disability, and other categories. It bans insurers from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or imposing extra costs for specific services like gender-affirming care or reproductive health based on these protected characteristics. The law requires coverage decisions to be based on medical necessity, not discrimination, and applies to all health-benefit plans offered by insurance companies, hospitals, and healthcare entities in the state. This directly affects both insurance consumers and healthcare providers who must comply with these non-discrimination standards.

Requires the executive office of health and human services to increase Medicaid payment rates for primary care services furnished by primary care providers to be commensurate with Medicare rates.

Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

Maddy summaryHB 6365 imposes a 50-cent fee per transaction on retailers (including marketplace facilitators) delivering taxable tangible goods to Rhode Island customers, effective October 1, 2025. It exempts retailers with under $500,000 in annual delivery sales in the state and all food-related deliveries (including prepared food and food service establishments). The fee is charged per transaction regardless of shipment size, must be listed separately from sales price on receipts, and is nonrefundable for returned items. Retailers may choose to collect the fee from customers but are not required to do so.

Provides that minor subdivisions would include oversized lot subdivisions under certain circumstances and relative to zoning ordinances, permit a modification to allow "neighborhood character-based modifications" under certain circumstances.

Requires every school district to render assistance and cooperation within its jurisdictional power to further the objects of this chapter, to wit, providing the courts with any information concerning a child as the court may require.

Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 6290 proposes a new wealth tax in Rhode Island, directly affecting both individuals and various business entities considered residents of the state. Beginning January 1, 2026, it imposes a one percent (1%) tax on a resident's "taxable worldwide wealth." This wealth is defined as the fair market value of all intangible assets, such as cash, investments, patents, and trademarks, owned or controlled by the resident. Residents will be required to file annual returns by April 15th to report their wealth from the preceding calendar year.

Extends allocation of motor fuel tax to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Fund through 2025. Changes the allocation to 30% total proceeds, including 30% from the one cent per gallon environmental protection fee through 2026 and thereafter.