Rep. Cherie Cruz

Maddy summaryHB 5220 amends Rhode Island's 2015 Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act to require police departments statewide to collect detailed data during routine traffic stops and searches. This includes recording the officer's perception of the driver's race/ethnicity, stop reasons, search details, and outcomes (like citations or arrests), starting no later than January 2026. An independent agency chosen by the Department of Transportation must conduct an annual study analyzing this data for racial disparities and publish public reports quarterly and annually. The law aims to provide transparency on traffic stop practices and support efforts to address potential inequities in policing.

Authorizes the city of Central Falls, via home rule charter or city ordinance, to create a school board with all powers and duties thereto, to govern the Central Falls school district.

Maddy summaryHB 6063 upgrades penalties for specific personal watercraft safety violations from civil to criminal offenses. It makes violations of safety rules in sections 46-27-2(b) and 46-27-2(h) punishable as misdemeanors, with fines up to $500 or up to six months in jail per violation, plus potential six-month operating suspensions. Other safety rule violations remain civil offenses with $250 fines. The law directly affects personal watercraft operators in Rhode Island who break these specific safety provisions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the 60th annual Gaspee Days celebration and the 253rd anniversary of the 1772 burning of the British schooner HMS Gaspee by Rhode Island colonists. It honors this event as a pivotal moment in American independence history and urges Rhode Island residents to participate in the annual festivities. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, directing the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Gaspee Days Committee. It does not create new laws, affect any group, or change existing regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating June 2025 as "Portuguese American Heritage Month" in Rhode Island. It formally recognizes the cultural, economic, and social contributions of Portuguese Americans to the state, including their historical roles in industries like fishing and textiles, and their communities in cities such as Providence and Newport. The resolution requires the Secretary of State to send certified copies to the Governor, Portuguese officials, and the Rhode Island Day of Portugal nonprofit organization. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws, funding, or obligations but aims to honor the community's legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Pawtucket's property tax system by creating new classifications for residential properties. It expands Class 1 to include buildings with up to six dwelling units if at least one is owner-occupied (previously five units), and establishes Class 5 for buildings with five or fewer units where no units are owner-occupied. The bill also limits Class 5 tax rates to no more than 175% of Class 1 rates. These changes directly affect Pawtucket property owners, particularly landlords of multi-unit residential buildings, by altering how their properties are taxed based on occupancy and unit count.

Maddy summaryHB 5250 adds Juneteenth National Freedom Day to the list of holidays requiring retail businesses to close in this state. The bill amends the definition of "holiday" in retail business law to include Juneteenth, meaning retail establishments (but not food service businesses) must close on this day starting January 1, 2026. This change directly affects businesses operating under the state's retail holiday regulations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, aligning Juneteenth with other established legal holidays like New Year's Day and Independence Day.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 6348 exempts the real and tangible personal property (like buildings and physical assets) of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center in Pawtucket from local property taxes. This targeted exemption directly affects only this specific nonprofit organization, adding it to Rhode Island’s existing list of tax-exempt entities. The bill amends the property taxation law by inserting the center as a new category under the "property exempt" section. It does not change general tax rules but creates a specific exception for this organization’s property.

Creates a bail task force to study the need of monetary conditions of bail and to consider other methods for ensuring an accused’s appearance in court, enhance public safety and honor the presumption of innocence.