Rep. Stephen Casey

Provides an 8% tax rate for those properties that are encumbered by a deed restriction for low-income housing set at 80% or 60% of adjusted median income established by HUD.

Maddy summaryHB 5236 would increase the maximum local tax rate to 12% for certain federally supported housing properties. Specifically, it applies to residential properties in Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, Section 811 Supporting Housing for Persons with Disabilities, or project-based Section 8 housing that use an operating cost basis for federal reimbursement. This 12% rate would take effect January 1, 2026, replacing the current 8% maximum for these properties. The bill does not change existing tax rates but sets a higher cap for these specific federally assisted housing programs.

Maddy summaryHB 6013 suspends the 4% gross earnings tax on electric and gas utility corporations from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2034 (a 10-year period). This directly affects companies primarily engaged in manufacturing, selling, or distributing electricity and gas to the public. The bill amends tax code section 44-13-4 to temporarily halt this specific tax rate, which would otherwise apply to these utilities. The suspension is set to end on January 1, 2035, when the tax would resume.

Authorizes the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund the newly established freshwater lake management program.

Establishes an agricultural restricted receipt account within the department of environmental management. An advisory committee would be established to determine suggested uses of the funds in said account.

Maddy summaryHB 5449 would repeal a current law that bans retail liquor licenses within 200 feet of schools or religious institutions. This change would allow businesses to seek liquor licenses in areas previously restricted, such as near schools or churches. The bill directly affects liquor retailers seeking new locations and communities where such licenses might be issued. It does not alter other alcohol licensing rules but removes a specific geographic restriction.

Permits every municipality in the state to offer a homestead tax exemption of up to 20% of assessed value on residential properties, and also provides that municipalities that grant greater exemptions not be limited by this section.

Maddy summaryHB 5754 increases Rhode Island's estate tax exemption to $4 million for deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026. This means estates valued below $4 million will not owe state estate tax under this provision. The exemption amount will adjust annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), rounded up to the nearest $5 increment. The bill directly affects residents and nonresidents whose estates exceed this threshold after 2025, delaying the tax liability for larger estates. This change aligns with the state's existing practice of adjusting estate tax thresholds based on inflation.

Maddy summaryHB 5329 exempts vape shops from Rhode Island's ban on selling flavored e-cigarettes. The bill defines "vape shop" as any location dedicated to selling e-cigarette products, allowing these stores to sell flavored devices while prohibiting other retailers from doing so. It also clarifies that cannabis businesses are exempt from this ban except for tobacco/nicotine products. The law would take effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 5175 updates the definition of "infectious disease" to explicitly include COVID-19, ensuring firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are covered under existing notification and disability benefits. The bill expands the scope of diseases that trigger required employer notification after exposure and qualifies workers for occupational disability benefits if illness develops from such exposure. It directly affects emergency responders employed by fire departments, police departments, or emergency medical services. The change ensures these workers receive the same protections for COVID-19 exposure as they do for other diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C under current law.