Establishes the Rhode Island lake management program within the department of environmental management to aid with lake and pond management issues relating to the control of aquatic invasive plants.
Allows the Halona Woodson to join the Honorable Brianna E. Henries and Jarod Radigan in marriage on August 8, 2024, within the Town of Jamestown, Rhode Island.
Maddy summaryHB 8325 updates Rhode Island state laws to include technical corrections and specific changes to two key areas. First, it clarifies how lottery prizes must be paid to minors and individuals under legal disabilities by directing funds to guardians or custodians. Second, it reorganizes how hotel taxes are distributed among various regional tourism districts, local cities, and state agencies, with different percentages applying to taxes collected before and after December 31, 2015. The bill also reenacts a large portion of the state's general laws to ensure consistency after these amendments.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Rhode Island-Ireland trade commission to promote economic ties and mutual interests between the two regions. The seven-member advisory group will be appointed by the governor, the Senate president, and the House speaker, with members serving unpaid terms of two to four years. The commission will research trade opportunities, facilitate business and academic exchanges, and submit annual written reports with recommendations to state leaders. It is authorized to raise its own funds through donations and grants to cover administrative expenses and will operate under state open meetings laws.
Allows law enforcement to utilize mufflers, silencers, or other devices for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm while acting within the scope of their official duties under the supervision of the police chief or colonel of the state police.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts commercial egg-laying hens from confinement laws that currently restrict how animals are kept in cages until January 1, 2030. The legislation amends existing statutes to allow these hens to be housed in ways that would otherwise be considered unlawful confinement under the current rules. This change directly affects the egg industry by providing a temporary legal exception for standard commercial egg production practices. The exemption is set to expire on the specified date, at which point the hens would again be subject to the original confinement regulations.
Allows the healthcare facility to conduct human-subject research on patients subject to 21 C.F.R. Pt 50 and/or 45 C.F.R. Pt 46 (relating to the informed consent of human subjects).
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new municipal court in the town of Foster to handle local legal matters. The court will have the authority to hear cases involving violations of town ordinances, such as zoning and housing code infractions, as well as traffic violations. It grants the court specific powers to order repairs, demolitions, or other corrective actions for housing violations and allows defendants to appeal decisions to the superior court. The town council is authorized to appoint judges and clerks, set court fees, and manage the court's operations, with fines for offenses capped at $500.
Maddy summaryHB 7440 amends state fishing regulations to permit the harvesting of blue crabs during nighttime hours, changing the previous rule that restricted catching to daylight only. The bill directly affects residents of the state who fish for blue crabs by allowing them to use scoops, crab nets, trot lines, or hand lines after sunset and before sunrise. Additionally, the legislation corrects a terminology error by updating "land line" to "hand line" in the relevant section of the law. This change expands the time window available for crabbing without altering the required equipment or residency requirements.
Requires the department of environmental management to promulgate by rule, a list of "furbearers" for purposes of the furbearing animals chapter of the general laws.
