Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith

Maddy summaryHB 5838 ensures schools provide appropriate support for English language learners (ELLs) and English as a second language (ESL) students during individualized education plan (IEP) processes. It requires evaluations to be conducted in a student’s primary language, mandates IEP teams to include experts in second-language acquisition, and prohibits school districts from pressuring families to decline language services. The bill also requires schools to use trained bilingual interpreters for parent communication and ensures IEPs address both language learning and disability needs. These changes directly affect ELL/ESL students, their families, and school districts in Rhode Island.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6404) is a ceremonial tribute recognizing Andrew Schiff’s 18+ years as CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. It honors his leadership in doubling food distribution (to 18.3 million pounds monthly), guiding the food bank through the pandemic, and advocating for policies like minimum wage increases and expanded food assistance programs. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely thanks Schiff for his service and directs the Secretary of State to send him a certified copy. It directly affects Schiff (a retiring executive) and the food bank’s mission, but does not create new laws or funding.

Allows the Honorable Thomas J. Paolino to join Mariah Marie Paolino and Conner Joseph Gerlach in marriage on or about June 13, 2025, within the Town of Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Would amend certain signature requirements and deadlines regarding primaries for election of delegates to national conventions for presidential preference.

Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

Maddy summaryHB 6348 exempts the real and tangible personal property (like buildings and physical assets) of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center in Pawtucket from local property taxes. This targeted exemption directly affects only this specific nonprofit organization, adding it to Rhode Island’s existing list of tax-exempt entities. The bill amends the property taxation law by inserting the center as a new category under the "property exempt" section. It does not change general tax rules but creates a specific exception for this organization’s property.

Maddy summaryHR 6366 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing May 27, 2025, as "ALS Awareness Day" in Rhode Island. It formally acknowledges the impact of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) through statements about its severity and the work of ALS United Rhode Island, the state's sole nonprofit dedicated to supporting ALS patients and families. The resolution encourages all Rhode Islanders to learn about ALS, support affected individuals, and participate in ALS United RI's annual Soak Challenge event on June 1, 2025. It does not create new laws or allocate funds, but serves as a symbolic gesture of recognition and advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 6367) is a symbolic resolution designating May 2025 as "Brain Cancer and Tumor Awareness Month" in Rhode Island. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally recognizes the impact of brain tumors - highlighting statistics like 200 annual diagnoses in the state and their effect on patients and families. The resolution urges Rhode Islanders to support research and treatment, and directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to the Rhode Island Brain and Spine Tumor Foundation and the American Brain Tumor Association. As a commemorative measure, it has no direct regulatory or financial impact on individuals or organizations.

Requires every school bus, including buses used exclusively for to transport students receiving special education, to be equipped with a live digital video school bus violation detection monitoring system and retractable stop sign.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 6358) formally congratulates the Wheeler School Academic Decathlon team and their coach, Dayna Cueva Alegria, for winning first place at the 2025 Rhode Island Academic Decathlon. It recognizes the team's achievement of scoring over 34,000 points - their first championship since 2008 - and specifically highlights individual medal winners. As a ceremonial resolution (not substantive legislation), it has no policy impact and simply directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the coach. The resolution directly affects the Wheeler School students, their coach, and the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon program.