Maddy summaryHouse Bill 5842, known as the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and higher education institutions, as well as certain athletic associations, to designate interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams based on biological sex. Teams designated for females would only be open to students identified as female. If a student's sex is disputed, it would be determined by a physician's statement based on their reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetic makeup. The bill also protects educational institutions for maintaining separate female sports teams and allows students to pursue legal action if they are deprived of athletic opportunities or face retaliation due to violations of this act.
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Provides that any school teaching sexual education to students shall provide the sexual education curriculum to every parent or guardian of a student, and the parent or legal guardian shall consent to the teaching of such sexual education curriculum.
Prohibits the distribution, transfer, or possession of any material that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
Provides that fees for costs charged for search, retrieval or copying of public records shall be waived for members of the general assembly who certify that they are acting in their official capacity.
Maddy summaryHB 5663 requires state law enforcement agencies (including sheriffs' offices and the department of corrections) to honor all detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill mandates that these agencies hold individuals in custody until federal immigration authorities take custody, without exception for the detainer requests. It directly affects people detained by state law enforcement who receive an ICE detainer, as it would prevent their release until ICE arrives. This bill does not change immigration law but alters how state agencies handle federal immigration detainers.
Maddy summaryHB 5401 removes pet care services (such as grooming, boarding, and daycare) from the list of taxable services under Rhode Island's sales tax law. This change means pet care businesses will no longer have to collect sales tax on their services, directly affecting these providers and their customers. The bill repeals the specific reference to "pet care services (812910)" in the tax code that previously included them under taxable services. Veterinary and testing laboratory services remain taxable, as they were excluded from this repeal. The policy change would take effect upon the bill's passage.
Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.
Allows the division of motor vehicles to make special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares provided they meet the minimum order requirements.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 6196) is a symbolic proclamation designating April 6-12, 2025, as "National Library Week" in Rhode Island. It formally recognizes libraries as community hubs that provide free access to resources, promote digital equity, and support diverse populations. The resolution encourages all residents to visit libraries during this week and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to Rhode Island libraries and the Office of Library and Information Services. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal effect but serves to honor library services.
Maddy summaryHB 5589 prohibits individuals under age 16 from using rideshare services (like Uber or Lyft) alone. The bill requires law enforcement to remove underage riders from vehicles and hold them until a parent or guardian can take custody, with no fines or records kept for violations. It applies to all online ride-hailing platforms and takes effect upon passage. This policy directly affects minors under 16 traveling without an adult in rideshare vehicles.