Rep. Brandon Voas

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes and celebrates the 28th Annual "Women in Construction Week" in Rhode Island from March 1-7, 2026. It honors the National Association of Women in Construction Rhode Island Chapter 52 for its long-standing efforts to promote women's employment and advancement in the construction industry. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the organization and encourages state citizens to acknowledge the group's contributions to community development and skilled trades promotion.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution expressing condolences for the passing of Martha M. Farrell, a nurse from Cumberland who died on February 21, 2026. It honors her life by noting her 50-year marriage, her career in nursing across several Massachusetts and Rhode Island hospitals, and her community service including volunteer work and advocacy for marriage equality. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to her husband and family as a formal gesture of sympathy from the House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryHB 7954 requires large social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms prioritize content. It directly affects major platforms with significant user engagement, mandating transparency about algorithmic decision-making. The bill's key provision is a requirement for platforms to explain their content-ranking systems to users and regulators. This aims to increase clarity around how user feeds are curated, without specifying particular content rules or outcomes. The bill is currently under further study in committee.

Enables employees to no longer have to utilize sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave or other paid time off as a condition to their maternity leave.

Permits the construction of residential buildings that are up to four (4) stories and sixteen (16) dwelling units with a single staircase under certain conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 7607 prohibits payment networks from charging swipe fees (interchange and assessment fees) on state or local taxes and separately listed gratuities (tips) in electronic payment transactions. It requires payment networks to either deduct these amounts from swipe fee calculations at settlement or rebate merchants within 180 days if tax/tip details aren't captured at checkout. This directly affects merchants (businesses accepting card payments) and payment networks like Visa or Mastercard. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and includes penalties for violations, such as civil fines up to $1,000 per incident.

Requires any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the RI promise scholarship program or the RI hope scholarship program, after Rhode Island college has satisfied all eligible scholarships to be reimbursed to onward we learn.

Maddy summaryHB 7054 establishes guidelines to expand and sustain public prekindergarten programs for all Rhode Island children aged 3 and 4. It requires the state to ensure at least 70% of these children enroll in high-quality programs through a mixed delivery system including public schools, Head Start, and licensed child care. The bill mandates research-based quality standards covering teacher qualifications, class sizes, curriculum, and support for children with special needs or who are learning English. It also requires competitive wages for prekindergarten teachers (comparable to K teachers) and directs 30% of new prekindergarten funding to expand infant and toddler care programs. The law directly affects children, early educators, and child care providers across Rhode Island.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 7711) formally congratulates the Berntson family on the 50th anniversary of Diamond Hill Vineyards in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It directly affects the Berntson family, the founders and current owners of the family-run vineyard. The resolution, passed by the Rhode Island House of Representatives on February 11, 2026, expresses legislative recognition of the vineyard’s history since its founding in 1976 and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the family. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, serving solely as a ceremonial tribute.

Car rental company not subject to registration penalties resulting from out-of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles but are responsible for any outstanding toll amounts due.