Provides local agencies with a mechanism to opt-out of statewide transportation upon a showing of a cost-effective alternative to the current fee-for-service model.
Maddy summaryHB 7421 requires the Department of Revenue to annually report to the budget office the costs cities, towns, and school districts incurred for state mandates established after 1979. It mandates a public report, published on the state transparency portal, identifying school district costs that are partially funded or unfunded by the state. This report must be provided to the governor, legislature, and the public to inform budget decisions. The bill directly affects school districts bearing uncovered costs and local governments seeking reimbursement for state-mandated expenses.
Maddy summaryHB 7420 updates how state education funding is calculated to address inequities, primarily affecting school districts with high numbers of students in poverty. It introduces a new formula that factors in a district's revenue capacity and poverty levels to determine state aid, with a poverty loss stabilization fund for districts seeing aid drops over 2%. The bill also creates specific state-funded programs for special education costs, career and technical education, pre-K access, and stabilization for districts like Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center. It requires the state to publish a report identifying unfunded district costs and share this with lawmakers and the public. These changes aim to adjust funding based on need while adding targeted support for specific educational programs and struggling districts.
Maddy summaryHB 8498 repeals Rhode Island's existing laws that established a system for the responsible recycling, reuse, and disposal of mattresses. This bill directly affects mattress producers, retailers, and local municipalities by removing the legal framework that previously required them to participate in a statewide stewardship program. Under the old rules, companies were expected to pay fees into a council designed to manage discarded mattresses in an environmentally sound way. By eliminating these regulations entirely, the bill allows the state to stop enforcing these specific collection and recycling requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 8499 repeals the existing state laws that established a program for collecting and recycling unused household paint. This change directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by removing the legal requirement for a statewide paint stewardship system. The bill eliminates provisions that previously mandated producers to fund a nonprofit organization responsible for managing paint disposal and recycling. Consequently, the specific rules for how unused paint must be collected, transported, and processed are no longer in effect.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week in Rhode Island. It directly affects correctional staff working for the state's Department of Corrections and the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers. The resolution serves to honor their service and raise awareness of the duties and sacrifices they make in safeguarding citizens. The Secretary of State is instructed to send certified copies of this recognition to the relevant department director and union president.
Expands the patient-centered medical home program to all Medicaid-accepting independent primary care practices and nurse practitioners and increases reimbursement rates to match Massachusetts and Connecticut rates.
Provides that minor subdivisions include single family infill subdivisions and establishes procedures for single family infill subdivisions within the subdivision of land chapter of the general laws.
Removes the vehicle registration restriction for Kei cars and Kei trucks and spells out the restrictions on the Kei vehicles in order to be operated on public highways in the state.
Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors the life and legacy of Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie, a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The document formally recognizes his outstanding career achievements, including his record-setting batting average and Triple Crown performance in 1901, as well as his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to Dr. Gregory Rubano, who leads a campaign to unearth Lajoie's remains and reinter them in Woonsocket.
