Rep. Stephen Casey

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution congratulates students and instructors from the Warwick Area and Chariho Career and Technical Centers for winning the 2026 Rhode Island ProStart High School Competition. The bill formally recognizes their achievements in culinary arts, foodservice management, and hospitality tourism categories and authorizes the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to the winning schools. It does not change any laws or policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the teams' success in the state competition.

Removes the requirement that 5% of the hotel tax generated from regional tourism districts be paid to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and adds that 5% of the hotel tax to the existing tax paid to the RI commerce corporation.

Provides the review and appeal process for individuals applying for a permit or license to carry a handgun with the licensing authority or attorney general.

Provides that any person eighteen (18) years of age who is issued a license or permit may carry a stun gun. It would impose criminal penalties for a person to sell or transfer a stun gun to a person under the age of eighteen (18).

Caps delinquent tax interest rate at 12%. Prohibits audits beyond 3 years from date of tax filing, 7 years for fraudulent filings, and in no event beyond 10 years from date of filing or required filing date, whichever is later.

Makes it permissible for any student, professor, or other employee of any public or private college or university, to carry, possess and have in their custody, possession and/or under their control, a stun-gun or pepper spray for purposes of self-defense.

Allows a person over 18 to purchase a stun gun or electronic dart gun and prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart gun to a person under 18 and criminalizes using a stun gun or electronic dart gun in a crime or against a police officer.

Maddy summaryHB 8195 creates a tax credit for Rhode Island taxpayers who invest in certain local businesses. It directly affects individual and business taxpayers who make qualifying investments in designated Rhode Island companies. The bill provides a credit equal to a percentage of the investment amount, reducing the taxpayer's state tax liability. The credit applies only to investments meeting specific criteria set by the law, such as supporting businesses in targeted economic zones. The bill is currently pending in the House Finance Committee after its introduction on February 27, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 8187 makes tax credits for pass-through entities refundable, meaning businesses structured as pass-through entities (like S-corps or LLCs) can receive cash refunds if their credits exceed their tax liability. This directly affects qualifying businesses that currently can only use credits to reduce their tax bill, not receive payments. The bill changes the mechanism under Section 44-11-2.3 by allowing unused credits to be paid as cash refunds instead of being carried forward. It does not alter tax rates or create new obligations, only modifying how existing credits are applied.

Provides for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ and duration of the leave is dependent on the type of donation and notice should be provided to the employer at least thirty (30) days prior to the leave.