Rep. Joshua Giraldo

Maddy summaryHB 6365 imposes a 50-cent fee per transaction on retailers (including marketplace facilitators) delivering taxable tangible goods to Rhode Island customers, effective October 1, 2025. It exempts retailers with under $500,000 in annual delivery sales in the state and all food-related deliveries (including prepared food and food service establishments). The fee is charged per transaction regardless of shipment size, must be listed separately from sales price on receipts, and is nonrefundable for returned items. Retailers may choose to collect the fee from customers but are not required to do so.

Increases the membership from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21), and extend the reporting and expiration dates of the Commission to Study Housing Affordability from June 7, 2025, to June 5, 2027, and would expire on June 26, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 22, 2025, as "Rhode Island Community Health Center Day" to honor the state's eight community health centers. It recognizes these centers for providing affordable, comprehensive care to over 200,000 residents regardless of income, employing over 2,100 staff, and supporting local economies. The resolution is purely ceremonial and does not create new laws or funding; it simply formally acknowledges the centers' contributions. The eight centers listed - such as Providence Community Health Centers and Blackstone Valley Community Health Care - will receive certified copies of the resolution.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September as Substance Use Recovery Awareness Month in Rhode Island and urges state agencies, healthcare providers, educators, employers, media outlets, and community organizations to replace stigmatizing terms like "addict" or "clean" with person-first language (e.g., "person with a substance use disorder" or "in recovery"). It calls for adopting respectful communication to reduce barriers to treatment and recovery, emphasizing evidence-based approaches endorsed by health organizations. The resolution also supports statewide educational campaigns on stigma and invites the public to attend a Recovery Day Event at the Rhode Island State House on May 29, 2025. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but promotes cultural change in how substance use disorders are discussed.

Maddy summaryHB 5992 amends Rhode Island's Works Program to allow lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to receive cash assistance benefits immediately, without the previous waiting period. The bill directly affects eligible immigrants who previously faced a delay in accessing state aid despite meeting other program requirements. This change removes a specific barrier by updating eligibility rules to grant immediate access to benefits for lawful permanent residents who qualify under the program's other criteria.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 6290 proposes a new wealth tax in Rhode Island, directly affecting both individuals and various business entities considered residents of the state. Beginning January 1, 2026, it imposes a one percent (1%) tax on a resident's "taxable worldwide wealth." This wealth is defined as the fair market value of all intangible assets, such as cash, investments, patents, and trademarks, owned or controlled by the resident. Residents will be required to file annual returns by April 15th to report their wealth from the preceding calendar year.

Establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority, funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies, which said sales taxes would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.

Gives teachers who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 days.

Authorizes the office of postsecondary commissioner to expand bilingual and dual language teacher certificates in urban schools through two scholarship programs for students and teachers, with eligibility requirements and donations.