Relieves East Providence from providing any educational/financial resources to children in the CRAFT program or other Bradley Hospital programs. Requires the school district of origin where the student was last registered to bear this responsibility.
Maddy summaryHB 5201 amends the "Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act" to ensure full state funding for certain transportation costs. Specifically, it mandates that, starting with the fiscal year 2026 budget, the state will fully fund transportation categorical funds between the state and regional school districts. This aims to provide complete state coverage for these specific transportation expenses for regional school districts. The act also outlines state funding for other categorical programs, such as excess costs for special education, career and technical education, and pre-kindergarten programs.
Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.
Establishes a statewide “Healthy School Meals for all” universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over 3 years.
Increases the state’s regionalization bonus to six percent (6%) of the state’s fiscal year share of foundation education aid. This bonus would be ongoing and continuing so long as the district remains a regional school district.
Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.
Maddy summaryHB 5194 seeks to provide property tax relief to elderly and disabled persons who own or rent their homes. The bill increases the maximum income threshold for eligibility for property tax credits to $50,000. It also raises the maximum available tax credit to $850 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Furthermore, the bill introduces annual adjustments to both the income range and the maximum credit based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
Maddy summaryHR 5234 is a joint resolution proposing to appropriate $500,000 from the state treasury to the United Way of Rhode Island. This funding is designated to provide operational support for the 2-1-1 system. The 2-1-1 service is a free and confidential hotline available to all Rhode Islanders 24/7, connecting them to assistance for needs like housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and utilities. It also serves as a communication resource during state crises and natural disasters.
Would provide children up to age three (3) with continuous coverage eligibility for RIte Track/RIte Care so that they are not at risk of losing coverage at the yearly redetermination due solely to administrative barriers.
Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a seven (7) member board of licensure.
