Rep. Jennifer Stewart

Maddy summaryHB 5508 would set a new minimum wage of $22.00 per hour for covered workers, effective January 1, 2026. This amendment updates the existing minimum wage schedule in the state's labor law, which has previously increased incrementally since 1999. The bill directly affects all employers subject to minimum wage requirements under state law, including most private-sector workers. The change represents a significant increase from the current $15.00 hourly rate set to take effect in 2025.

Bans preferential treatment to a public or private university applicant because of the student's familial relationship to a previous university attendee.

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.

Establishes a commission to promulgate rules, regulations and make recommendations to the governor as to petitions for pardons under Article IX, Section 13 of the Constitution of Rhode Island.

Requires a municipality to disclose on their official website the specific issues, details and costs of any legal action of which the town or city is a named defendant within sixty (60) days after the close of their fiscal year.

Permits every municipality in the state to offer a homestead tax exemption of up to 20% of assessed value on residential properties, and also provides that municipalities that grant greater exemptions not be limited by this section.

Maddy summaryHB 5334 requires veterinarians to provide pet owners with a consultation when prescribing or dispensing medication for an animal patient. The consultation must cover the drug name, dosage instructions, storage, actions for missed doses, and potential severe side effects, as specified in the bill. Veterinarians may delegate this task to registered veterinary technicians and must document whether the consultation was provided or declined in the animal's medical record. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, directly affecting veterinarians and pet owners in their medication communication process.

Establishes a single-payer health care insurance system, consolidating public and private payments into a more efficient Medicare-for-all style program, funded by progressive taxes, to reduce health care costs.

Prohibit the family court from detaining any juvenile or committing any juvenile, under the age of 12 years, to the training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 5336 would restructure governance of Rhode Island's Urban Collaborative (serving Providence and other participating school districts) by replacing its previous structure with a board of five trustees. The board would include the Providence superintendent, superintendents from other approved districts, and council-appointed members. The bill also specifies that state education funding would flow directly to the collaborative, with local districts transferring their share, and clarifies the collaborative's eligibility for state and federal education funds. This bill was introduced on February 7, 2025, but withdrawn at the sponsor's request on February 12, 2025, and never became law.