Caps the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler, prescription device, or prescription equipment to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per thirty (30) day supply.
Requires that an independent efficiency and performance audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the department of administration.
Maddy summaryHB 7534 allows licensed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense FDA-approved tobacco cessation drugs under specific conditions. Pharmacists must complete state-approved education, verify patients meet criteria (age 18+, participation in a structured program, and nicotine safety education), and refer high-risk cases to primary care providers. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans cover these pharmacist-provided cessation services starting January 1, 2027, without requiring supervision or referrals from other providers. This policy directly affects pharmacists, patients seeking smoking cessation support, and health insurers by expanding access to tobacco cessation care through pharmacists' existing scope of practice.
Maddy summaryHB 7841 requires veterinarians to discuss treatment options with pet owners when prescribing and dispensing drugs for an animal's annual veterinary care. This applies specifically to routine prescriptions during standard annual check-ups, not one-time treatments. The bill directly affects veterinarians who dispense medications and the pet owners receiving those prescriptions. It creates a new requirement for veterinarians to provide this consultation as part of the prescription process, aiming to improve communication about medication use. (Note: The bill is currently under review by the House Corporations committee as of March 2026.)
Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding House resolution (not a bill) introduced by the Rhode Island House of Representatives. It expresses concerns about Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, which are private insurance options replacing traditional Medicare, noting issues like higher costs for patients during serious illness, narrower provider networks, and practices that allegedly prioritize insurer profits over patient care. The resolution urges federal lawmakers and agencies to take specific actions, including increasing transparency, auditing MA plans, regulating marketing, and prohibiting profit-driven practices like "cherry-picking" healthy enrollees. It does not create new laws but calls for administrative changes to protect Medicare beneficiaries.
Imposes a tax equal to four percent (4%) on net investment income, such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, capital gains and rental income, of high-income households, estates and trusts, based upon federal guidelines.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Rhode Island landfills from using artificial turf to cover compacted solid waste after July 1, 2026, except for existing installations installed before that date. It requires the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRC) to track artificial turf disposal volumes and include annual reports on this data. The bill also establishes a pilot program testing native plants and pollinator-friendly grass mixes as landfill cover, with results due by January 1, 2028. These changes apply to all sanitary landfills operated under RIRC's oversight.
Updates the Homeless Bill of Rights law to add rules governing the interaction with encampments and includes the right to access clean and sanitary conditions.
Maddy summaryHB 7688 establishes the Rhode Island Child Care for All Act, creating a new Office for Early Learning by June 2028 to centralize and improve the state’s child care system. It directly affects families with young children (by reducing costs to under 7% of income), child care providers (through annual funding to cover costs beyond family fees), and early educators (by requiring wage supplements to match K-12 standards). Key provisions include consolidating child care administration from other agencies, funding providers to expand affordability and quality, and developing a statewide system offering free pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds alongside accessible care for children from birth to age 12. The bill aims to address current market failures by treating child care as a public good, similar to K-12 education.
Maddy summaryHB 7044 establishes an 11-member committee to develop regulations for homeless shelters in Rhode Island. The committee, including homeless individuals, advocates, shelter providers, and housing officials, will draft standards covering access policies, residents' rights, health and safety protocols, and emergency operations. These regulations will ensure shelters provide non-discriminatory services, prohibit fees, protect privacy, and maintain safe environments for residents. The bill does not immediately implement rules but creates a process for developing them through the committee's recommendations.
