Rep. Bob Phillips

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) designating March 13, 2025, as "North Kingstown Day" in Rhode Island. It formally celebrates the town's 350th anniversary, its WWII heritage, military connections, and economic contributions to Rhode Island. The resolution urges citizens to honor North Kingstown's service and contributions, with no new laws, funding, or policy changes. It directly affects the Town of North Kingstown and its residents, recognizing their historical and civic role. The resolution passed the House on March 13, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 5616 prohibits public health advertisements and regulations from stating or implying that there is a safe way to use illegal drugs. The bill directly affects state health departments and public health campaigns by requiring all official health communications to avoid this specific claim. It adds a new policy section to the Department of Health chapter, making it state policy that such statements cannot appear in any public health materials. The bill was introduced in February 2025 and is currently pending further study after committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 5870 defines public-private partnerships (PPPs) as long-term contracts where private companies develop, finance, or maintain state-owned assets while bearing significant risk. It requires state agencies to use competitive procurement for PPPs and mandates specific requirements in requests for proposals, including value-for-money analyses, oversight plans, and financial documentation. The bill directs the chief purchasing officer to create rules by July 2026 to encourage PPP use, while ensuring state agencies remain responsible for oversight. It directly affects state agencies making infrastructure or property purchases and private contractors seeking to partner with the government. The law does not change existing procurement rules but provides a formal framework for evaluating and implementing PPPs.

Provides all employees of retail establishments with 15 or more employees engaged in work during Sundays or holidays shall receive from their employer no less than time and a half and shall be guaranteed at least a minimum of four (4) hours employment.

Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishment locations when new construction are being done and permits insurers to consider the installation to provide a discount on the owner's insurance policy.

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 summaryThis joint resolution would approve changes to Rhode Island's Medicaid program, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and state budget allocations. Key provisions include capping nursing facility and hospital rate increases at 2.3% (aligned with projected state tax revenue growth), eliminating annual home care rate increases, and removing hospital payment limits. It also establishes a new interprofessional consultation program and authorizes $396 million in hospital payments for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. These adjustments require state plan amendments to implement under federal Medicaid waiver rules. The resolution was scheduled for consideration but was withdrawn in March 2025.

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.

Requires that all agencies' final rules, promulgated pursuant to the administrative procedures act, be approved by general assembly action, but in no case later than December 31 of the year it is promulgated before it can become effective.

Creates the Old Growth Forest Protection Act to provide protection for state-owned forestland in their natural state prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting in any forest on state-owned land.