Rep. Anthony DeSimone

Maddy summaryHB 7244 requires the state to pay 50% of relocation costs for private utility companies (like electricity or gas providers) when highway projects necessitate moving their facilities. For public entities (such as cities, counties, or state agencies), the state covers 100% of these relocation costs. The bill applies specifically to highway projects on federal aid systems (like interstate highways) where the state receives federal funding. This change ensures that both private and public utility owners are compensated for relocation expenses tied to state highway construction, with no reimbursement for improvements ("betterment").

Maddy summaryHB 7501 allocates $100,000 in the 2026-2027 budget to support mental health and emotional well-being for K-12 students in out-of-school time (OST) programs, such as after-school and summer programs. It provides funding for staff training in trauma-informed practices, peer support groups, mental health resources, and culturally responsive activities designed by local communities. The funds will be distributed competitively through Rhode Island’s Afterschool Network to prioritize programs serving high-need youth across urban, suburban, and rural areas. This policy directly affects community-based OST programs and their staff, enabling flexible support for youth mental health needs.

Provides that a portion of state income taxes from employees working at not-for-profit healthcare institutions, health service institutions, and educational institutions be allocated to the city of Providence.

Raises the minimum threshold contract price before public works contractors are required to pay prevailing wages to their employees, from $1,000 to $100,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that formally celebrates the 56th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2026, in Rhode Island. It calls on state residents to learn about environmental challenges and participate in solutions, while directing the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to specific state environmental officials. The document serves as a commemorative acknowledgment rather than establishing new laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 8185 amends pension benefits for Rhode Island State Police members. It directly affects both current officers still serving and former members who have retired. The bill modifies the existing pension benefit structure, though the abstract does not specify the exact nature of the changes to the benefits. This is a policy change focused on retirement compensation for state police personnel.

Increases the yearly amount of money that retired teachers, who had been certified driver education teachers, could earn from fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), without a reduction in their retirement benefits.

Creates "Harter's Law" to extend the civil statute of limitations, for injuries resulting from first degree child abuse, to thirty-five (35) years and cap civil damages recovery at five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

Recognizes that municipal employees have the opportunity to utilize binding arbitration and establishes new factors for the arbitrators to consider. These factors include comparisons of wages/hourly conditions of employment in similarly skilled jobs.

Sets the allocation to RIPTA at the greater of $0.1175 per gallon or 29.375% of total proceeds, with $0.005 per gallon derived from the $0.01 per gallon environmental protection fee.