Rep. Mia Ackerman

Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state college or university who teach at least 50% of the hours regularly worked by full-time faculty in a semester would be eligible for the same medical benefits as other state employees.

Maddy summaryHB 8486 authorizes the committees of the Rhode Island General Assembly to allow members of the public to provide testimony remotely during meetings. Under this bill, individuals can participate via electronic communication, such as telephone conferencing or videoconferencing, provided that remote participants are audible and visible to those present in the room. The legislation also includes specific requirements for public notice when videoconferencing is used and ensures that a quorum of the committee members must be participating for the meeting to proceed. This change aims to increase accessibility for the public without altering the existing rules regarding closed sessions or disruptive conduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally designates April as Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Month in Rhode Island. It encourages educators to include lessons on past and current genocides in their classrooms to promote understanding and prevent future atrocities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the proclamation to the Commissioner of Education and the state's Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission.

Prohibits an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or employee, to commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice; individuals would be held personally liable for such conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 7291 allows non-union employees to form a collective bargaining group with their employer. To establish this group, employees must show majority support by either gathering signed cards from 30% of the unit requesting an election (where a majority must vote for representation) or 50% of the unit agreeing to skip an election. The bill prohibits employers from interfering with this process and requires neutrality from management. It also creates new rules for deducting union dues from paychecks and sharing confidential employee lists with bargaining representatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from engaging in specific deceptive trade practices, including spread pricing, effective rate pricing, and patient steering. It directly affects pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacies, pharmacists, and patients enrolled in health plans administered by these managers within Rhode Island. The legislation defines prohibited actions such as charging higher prices than reimbursed amounts, steering patients toward affiliated pharmacies, penalizing enrollees for pharmacy choices, and misusing patient prescription data for business gain. Violations are classified as unfair and deceptive trade practices, allowing the attorney general to pursue legal remedies for each individual consumer transaction where a prohibited act occurs.

Maddy summaryHB 7862, the Healthcare Accessibility and Quality Assurance Act, prohibits insurance companies from unilaterally changing contracts with healthcare providers, such as altering payment rates or service terms without agreement. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and hospitals) and insurance companies by requiring mutual consent for any contract modifications. The key provision prevents insurers from imposing changes alone, aiming to stabilize provider relationships and maintain consistent healthcare access. The bill was introduced to the House Corporations committee on February 27, 2026, and remains in early legislative stages.

Charges the office of the health insurance commissioner to incorporate uncompensated care as a formula-driven numeric adjustment in the methodology used to establish any affordability standard or rate cap, applicable to hospital contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 7274 allows physician assistants (PAs) to practice without needing a physician's direct supervision and permits them to receive Medicaid payments directly for services provided. The bill amends licensing rules to remove the requirement for written agreements with supervising physicians and clarifies that PAs can provide medical services within their scope without physician oversight. It also adds a new provision requiring Medicaid to pay PAs directly, rather than through a physician's billing, for services rendered. This affects PAs by expanding their practice autonomy and Medicaid patients by potentially increasing access to care from PAs. The changes take effect upon passage.

Caps delinquent tax interest rate at 12%. Prohibits audits beyond 3 years from date of tax filing, 7 years for fraudulent filings, and in no event beyond 10 years from date of filing or required filing date, whichever is later.