Rep. Cherie Cruz

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 9, 2026, as "Rhode Island Home Visiting Day" to highlight the importance of home visiting programs for families. It directly affects parents, children, and the organizations that provide these services, which offer support to pregnant individuals and young families. The resolution encourages residents to recognize these programs as vital resources for healthy child development and directs state officials to send copies of the proclamation to relevant health and human services leaders.

Prohibits state or local authorities from voluntary participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. It would not prohibit compliance with a judicial warrant or court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Amends current law on controlled substances to permit psilocybin to be cultivated within a person's residence for personal use and contingent on the US FDA's program, mandate that RI department of health establish rules regulations.

Decriminalizes certain commercial sexual activity. It would also include human trafficking as a racketeering activity and would allow expungements of certain convictions in § 11-34.1 after one year.

Maddy summaryHB 8124, titled the "Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026," creates a new legislative framework for supporting staffing at Rhode Island Veterans Homes. The bill, introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Veterans Affairs committee, directly affects state-operated veterans homes and their staffing needs. The provided context does not specify the exact mechanisms or provisions of the bill (e.g., funding methods, staffing ratios, or eligibility criteria), only its title and introduction date. Further details about its concrete policy changes would require access to the full bill text or committee summaries.

Requires the JNC to establish standardized merit-based selection process and that applications be evaluated according to uniform, job-related criteria adopted in advance and published on the commission's website.

Permits RI Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, in consultation with RI Bar Association and its Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to appoint members of JNC and requires judicial candidates to disclose political donations.

Maddy summaryHB 8079 amends jury qualification laws to include individuals receiving public assistance benefits in the pool of eligible jurors. This change directly affects people currently excluded from jury service due to their receipt of public assistance, expanding who can be summoned for jury duty. The bill modifies statutory language to remove barriers preventing these individuals from being listed on jury rosters. It does not alter other eligibility requirements or create new exemptions.

Requires that the chief judge of the family court in appointing magistrates do so in accordance with the judicial selection and nomination process set forth in chapter 16.1 of title 8.

Maddy summaryHB 7505 ends Rhode Island's Jobs Development Act tax incentive program by July 1, 2026. It stops all new rate reductions for companies after June 30, 2026, and requires existing beneficiaries who qualified before July 1, 2015, to maintain their current tax rate until the program's end date. The bill does not affect companies that already secured benefits before the 2015 cutoff date, but no new companies can qualify for the tax rate reductions after 2026. This is a straightforward sunset provision for the state's job creation tax incentive program.