Makes revisions to the number, timing, and procedures to be followed when schools grades K through 12 implement fire drills, evacuation drills, and crisis response drills, designed to protect the health and safety of students.
Authorizes Providence to issue not more than $400,000,000 general obligation bonds & notes to finance the construction, related demolition, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing and equipping of schools throughout the city.
Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council to create a detailed report on how to track energy use and improve performance in large Rhode Island buildings, which are defined as those with at least 25,000 square feet of floor space. The report must cover topics such as current energy sources, estimated costs for upgrades, and a timeline for implementing new standards, while also considering input from the public and relevant committees. The legislation directs the council to submit this document to state legislative leaders and make it available online by February 15, 2025. Ultimately, the bill seeks to gather specific data and recommendations to guide future policy decisions regarding building efficiency rather than establishing new rules immediately.
Repeals the exemption granted to pari mutual facilities and casinos from the smoke free workplace requirement and provides for a one time appropriate of $1,000,000 to inform patrons of the smoke free policy within the casino.
Requires prescription drug manufacturers to file a detailed, updated list of each pharmaceutical sales representative engaged by the manufacturer and to pay an annual fee for each name on list.
Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the Sheila C. "Skip" Nowell Academy by converting it from an independent charter school into a public school and local educational agency. The new structure allows the academy to operate under a cooperative agreement where the state and students' home school districts share the costs of education. It establishes a Board of Trustees appointed by the state Council on Elementary and Secondary Education to govern the school, which will focus on supporting at-risk students, including pregnant and parenting teens, and recent immigrants. The legislation ensures that all students attending the academy retain the same legal rights as those in other public schools while providing a rigorous, project-based curriculum.
Includes the general assembly elections within the category of elections subject to the risk-limiting audits within the jurisdiction of the board of elections.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to track energy and water use in large commercial buildings in Rhode Island, aiming to help the state reach its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. It requires buildings with at least 25,000 square feet of floor area to report their performance using tools like the EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and sets future standards for how efficiently these buildings must operate. Owners of covered properties who do not meet these standards or reporting requirements may have to pay a compliance fee instead. The Office of Energy Resources will manage the program, develop rules for implementation, and ensure enough staff and funding are available to carry it out.
Creates a 17 member commission to study the issues confronting the State due to climate change, and who would report back to the House by May 14, 2025, and expire on June 18, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 7981 updates state laws to give Rhode Island towns and cities more flexibility in writing their local zoning rules. The bill allows municipalities to create special districts that offer development incentives, such as higher density or increased building heights, in exchange for providing public benefits like new housing, open spaces, or traffic improvements. It also permits communities to establish mixed-use zones and regulate specific features like drive-through windows and development near scenic areas. By standardizing these options, the legislation aims to help local governments better manage land use while addressing housing needs and infrastructure challenges.
