Rep. Stephen Casey

Maddy summaryHB 5974 expands eligibility for the state's crime victim compensation program to include victims of hit-and-run incidents that cause serious bodily injury or death. The bill amends existing law to explicitly add "failure to stop by a driver in circumstances which result in serious bodily injury or death" as a qualifying offense under the program. This means victims of such hit-and-run accidents, who previously might not have been covered, can now apply for financial assistance through the compensation program. The change directly affects individuals injured or killed in hit-and-run crashes where the driver fled the scene.

Appropriates the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to fund the Thundermist family medicine residency program during fiscal year 2026 and every fiscal year thereafter.

Prohibits the Rhode Island medical assistance program and managed care organizations that it contracts with from requiring prior authorization or step therapy protocol for a prescription of a nonpreferred anticonvulsant or antipsychotic.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6335 proclaims May of 2025 as "ALS Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. The resolution encourages citizens to educate themselves on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and support efforts to combat the disease.

Maddy summaryHB 6007, known as the Rhode Island Digital Asset Retention Act, authorizes the state treasurer to invest uncommitted state funds, including the general fund and budget stabilization reserve, directly in digital assets like Bitcoin. These investments are limited to 10% of a fund's total and must use a secure custody solution via a qualified custodian or be in an exchange-traded product. The bill also permits state retirement systems to invest uncommitted funds in digital asset exchange-traded products. Additionally, the state treasurer may loan acquired digital assets to generate returns if it doesn't increase financial risk.

Adds department of corrections' correctional officers to the list of public safety employees that are entitled to their full salary if they are injured and become disabled as a result of performance of their job duties.

Provides for increases or decreases in the amount of foundation level school support that a community would receive, based upon a community's ability to meet and surpass its minimum low- and moderate-income housing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 5758 proposes to reduce the personal income tax burden for Rhode Island residents receiving social security benefits. The bill amends the state's personal income tax law to allow individuals to subtract their social security benefits from their federal adjusted gross income when calculating their state taxable income. This modification would effectively exempt social security benefits from being subject to state personal income tax. The changes outlined in the bill are slated to become effective on January 1, 2025.

Allows a clinical laboratory, that is incorporated in the State of Rhode Island, to analyze blood samples, from children under the age of six (6) years, for blood lead levels.

Removes the requirement that the public utilities commission allocate five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank for use with energy efficient programs.