Removes the age restriction for benefits coverage and requires, for health insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, that coverage must include reimbursement for applied behavior analysis provider services.
Allows for a tenant to withhold payment of rent, and deposit the rent accruing into an escrow bearing account, upon the issuance of a second notice of violation by an enforcing officer for any state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency.
Maddy summaryHB 5865 bans the sale of cosmetics in Rhode Island that were developed or manufactured using animal testing conducted on or after January 1, 2026. It directly affects cosmetic manufacturers and sellers within the state, imposing a $1,000 fine per violation for noncompliance. The law includes limited exemptions, such as when animal testing is required by federal or state regulators with no non-animal alternatives, or for ingredients in widespread use with no suitable substitutes. The bill amends existing cruelty-to-animals statutes to add this specific prohibition, focusing on the sale of cosmetics rather than testing itself.
Amends the current law on health insurance coverage for fertility diagnostic care, standard fertility preservation services, and fertility treatment and requires coverage for any medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and medical services.
Modifies the real estate sales disclosure form to include the disclosure of “blower door diagnostic air leakage testing” and advises that air leakage testing is recommended prior to purchasing a residential unit.
Maddy summaryHB 5870 defines public-private partnerships (PPPs) as long-term contracts where private companies develop, finance, or maintain state-owned assets while bearing significant risk. It requires state agencies to use competitive procurement for PPPs and mandates specific requirements in requests for proposals, including value-for-money analyses, oversight plans, and financial documentation. The bill directs the chief purchasing officer to create rules by July 2026 to encourage PPP use, while ensuring state agencies remain responsible for oversight. It directly affects state agencies making infrastructure or property purchases and private contractors seeking to partner with the government. The law does not change existing procurement rules but provides a formal framework for evaluating and implementing PPPs.
Maddy summaryHB 5858 clarifies and expands the prescribing authority of certified midwives (CNMs/CMs) in maternal and child health care. It authorizes licensed midwives to prescribe specific medications directly related to their practice, including prenatal vitamins, emergency drugs like epinephrine for anaphylaxis, magnesium sulfate for seizures, and common treatments like antibiotics for infections. The bill directly affects certified midwives and their patients, particularly in settings involving prenatal care, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. It does not create new programs but formalizes existing midwifery scope under state health department oversight, requiring midwives to prescribe within their training and department guidelines. The bill would take effect upon passage.
Sets a clear and enforceable standard for reducing the presence of harmful metals in personal care products, prioritizing public health through testing, labeling, and the development of safer alternatives.
Maddy summaryHB 5166 prohibits Rhode Island from licensing any new high-heat waste facilities, including incinerators, gasifiers, and advanced recycling plants that process waste at temperatures above 400°F. The bill defines such facilities broadly to cover processes like pyrolysis, depolymerization, and gasification used for converting waste, plastics, or recovered materials into fuels or chemicals. It directly affects developers and companies seeking to build new facilities of this type in the state. The prohibition would take effect immediately upon the bill's passage, applying to all new construction and operation permits.
Provides that an agreement resolving a patent infringement claim, in connection with the sale of a pharmaceutical product, is to be presumed to have anticompetitive effects if a nonreference drug filer receives anything of value.
