Rep. Cherie Cruz

Maddy summaryHB 7373 exempts the real and tangible personal property of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center in Pawtucket from local property taxation. The bill directly affects this specific nonprofit organization by removing its property tax obligation for its physical assets. The key provision is a targeted tax exemption for the center's buildings and equipment, not a broad policy change. The bill is currently under review by the House Municipal Government & Housing committee, having been referred for further study after a scheduled hearing.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the construction, reconstruction, repair and equipping of bridges.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, repair and equipping of streets and sidewalks.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $4,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the planning, evaluation, design, construction, equipping and reconstruction of sanitary sewers and storm sewers.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the renovation, construction, reconstruction and equipping of public recreation facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the City of Pawtucket to issue up to $3 million in bonds to fund the repaving of its streets over the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years. The legislation allows the city to sell these bonds with repayment terms ranging from three to thirty years, using the proceeds strictly for street repair projects and related costs. To manage cash flow before the bonds are sold, the city is permitted to issue temporary notes and make interest-free advances from its general treasury. The bill also outlines how bond proceeds and any investment earnings can be used to cover issuance expenses and pay interest on the debt.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,500,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the improvement and replacement of road safety infrastructure and traffic control devices.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $5,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, repair, alteration, furnishing and equipping of public buildings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Rhode Island law to rename drug court as recovery court and establish a new position for a drug recovery court magistrate within the superior court. The magistrate would be appointed by the presiding justice with senate approval, serve ten-year terms, and preside over adult offenders charged with non-violent drug-related offenses who are deemed drug-addicted. Key provisions include the magistrate's authority to enforce program conditions, impose incarceration for violations, and make final decisions on program admission and participant eligibility based on specific criteria. The bill also grants the magistrate powers to handle matters related to sexual offender registration and allows for appeals of magistrate orders to a superior court justice.

Maddy summaryHB 8005 changes how local governments in Rhode Island can set parking requirements for new housing. It amends zoning rules to adjust standards for permitted parking spaces in dwelling units, particularly affecting towns and cities that create zoning ordinances. The key change modifies Section 45-24-33's provisions about parking areas (subsection 4[vi]), clarifying how municipalities may limit or require parking based on development type. This directly impacts developers building new residential projects and local officials drafting zoning rules. The bill does not eliminate parking requirements but refines how they are applied within zoning codes.