Rep. Rebecca Kislak

Maddy summaryThis bill would have created a new Rhode Island Nursing Home Workforce Standards Advisory Board to advise the state on improving care quality and addressing wage issues in nursing homes. The proposed board would have included representatives from nursing home employers, workers, community organizations, and state agencies, with the power to recommend minimum statewide compensation and working standards. Although the legislation passed both chambers of the General Assembly, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Requires the chief resilience officer (CRO) be charged with creation/maintenance/updating of the state's resiliency/recovery program along with climate change resiliency plan with ocean/riverine coasts resilience advisory board.

Implements a grant program to fund public or private partnerships that provide opportunities for healthcare paraprofessionals to pursue higher education degrees and health professional licensure.

Enables cities and towns to enact enabling legislation authorizing a partner program to assist students with an IEP for specially designed physical education classes.

Allows the state to become a member of the physical therapist licensure compact adopted by twenty-five (25) states in order to facilitate the interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services.

Creates a protective legal shield for healthcare providers, precluding any civil/criminal action by other states/persons against healthcare providers involving persons seeking access to transgender and reproductive healthcare services provided in RI.

Requires landlords to list all mandatory fees when advertising any residential property for rent in the same section of the agreement as the rent disclosure.

Maddy summaryHB 7350 establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact, a new agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. This legislation directly affects social work professionals who wish to move between states or provide telehealth services to clients in different jurisdictions, as well as the state agencies that regulate these professions. The bill creates a commission to manage the compact and maintain a shared database of licensure and disciplinary records, while ensuring that each state retains the authority to protect public health and safety. By eliminating the need for separate licenses in every state, the measure aims to reduce administrative burdens, improve access to social work services, and better support military families.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Rhode Island's rules for mammogram reports to ensure they follow federal standards for notifying patients about dense breast tissue. It requires healthcare facilities to include specific language in mammography summaries that explains what dense tissue is, notes its potential impact on cancer detection, and suggests discussing additional screening options like ultrasound or MRI with a doctor. The change directly affects women who receive mammograms in the state and the medical facilities that perform these exams. By adopting these national reporting standards, the law aims to provide consistent information to patients regarding their breast density and associated health considerations.

Amends the conditions upon which a nurse would be exempt from certain licensing requirements to include eligibility to practice, before taking and receiving results of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).