Rep. Jennifer Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes "Main Street Rhode Island," a program managed by the nonprofit Grow Smart RI for three years to coordinate revitalization efforts in the state's commercial districts (downtowns, village squares, and retail corridors). It authorizes $500,000 in funding to implement a proven national strategy, including training for local communities, monthly educational sessions, and a centralized resource hub. The program aims to boost economic activity, job creation, and neighborhood development by connecting existing local efforts through standardized best practices. It formalizes a partnership between Grow Smart RI and Main Street America, with the Commerce Corporation handling fund disbursement.

This pilot program would create a $3,000 trust for each Rhode Island child ages zero to one year born to a family enrolled in the Rhode Island Works Program (“RI Works”) during the preceding calendar year.

Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about the immigration status of a tenant subject to any federal laws or regulations, but may request financial information or proof of identity.

Maddy summaryHB 5726, the Freedom to Read Act, prohibits public libraries and school libraries from removing materials based on disagreement with their content (such as race, gender, or political views), while allowing removals only for content deemed developmentally inappropriate or legally obscene. It requires public libraries to adopt a model policy for material selection and a formal reconsideration process where patrons can challenge materials through a written form, with reviews completed within 30 days by a committee including library staff. The law mandates that challenged materials remain available during review and requires governing bodies to provide written justifications for removal decisions, making them publicly available. This directly affects public libraries, school libraries, and patrons who use these services by establishing clear, transparent procedures for handling material challenges.

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles.

Maddy summaryHB 5796 amends Rhode Island's zoning law to require municipalities to include new residential options in their zoning ordinances. Specifically, it adds a requirement that zoning rules must permit "residential use options that are not limited to single-family detached structures" in areas with existing public water and sewer capacity within urban service boundaries. This change directly affects towns and cities as they update their zoning codes, enabling more housing types like duplexes or townhomes without requiring new infrastructure. The key mechanism is mandating this flexibility in zoning districts where water and sewer systems already exist, aiming to increase housing diversity. The bill does not override existing single-family zoning but expands permissible options in eligible areas.

Maddy summaryHB 5803 creates a standardized online permitting platform for all state and local building permits, zoning applications, and related services (including environmental and transportation permits) across Rhode Island. It requires local municipalities and state agencies to use this electronic system for processing applications, plan reviews, inspections, and fee collection by December 2013. The bill establishes new fees: 0.1% of construction costs for commercial permits and 0.2% for residential permits (capped at $100), with 50% of residential fees funding contractor training programs for minority businesses. These fees will fund the platform’s development and maintenance, replacing paper-based processes with a uniform statewide system.

Maddy summaryHB 5042 repeals the state law that permitted "payday lenders" to operate by removing authorization for "deferred-deposit transactions" (commonly known as payday loans). This directly affects payday lenders, who will no longer be legally allowed to offer short-term loans secured by a customer's check or bank account debit, as the definition of such transactions is deleted from the law. The bill eliminates the specific legal framework enabling these loans, meaning payday lenders can no longer conduct this business under current state law. It does not create new licensing requirements but effectively bans the practice by removing the enabling statute.

Maddy summaryHB 5714 allows anyone aged 18 or older to request changing the race description on their birth certificate to use culturally sensitive language. It requires the state vital records office to process these requests and directs the Department of Health to create rules or a system for handling all reasonable requests respectfully. The bill does not change other birth certificate details like names or dates, and the process must avoid offensive terminology. This law takes effect immediately upon signing, as it was signed by the Governor on June 30, 2025.

Amends the composition of the building code standards committee and would make several technical amendments relative to the building code office and would establish a state building code office within the office of state fire marshal.