Defines "military-connected student" and provides advance enrollment and open enrollment school registration procedures to give the military connected student flexibility in choosing a school district.
Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly.
Establishes an intervenor support program to provide compensation for an intervenor who makes a substantial contribution to a proceeding resulting in a decision favorable to the interest of utility consumers.
Increases the minimum required awarded to minority business enterprises from 15% to 20% and of that, requires a minimum of 10% be awarded to minority owned businesses and a minimum of 10% be awarded to women owned businesses.
Allows citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities.
Maddy summaryHB 5103 prohibits landlords and housing agents in Rhode Island from asking applicants about prior incarceration history or discriminating against them based on that history. The bill amends the Fair Housing Practices Act to explicitly include "prior incarceration" as a protected characteristic, alongside existing categories like race and gender. This means landlords cannot deny housing, refuse to rent, or ask about past jail time during the application process. The law directly affects renters with criminal records and aims to reduce barriers to housing for people who have been released from prison.
Maddy summaryHB 5127 allows tenants to pay increased security deposits in monthly installments over 12 months if their landlord raises rent and the security deposit amount simultaneously. This directly affects tenants in rental properties where landlords increase both rent and security deposits. The bill amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to permit this payment schedule, while maintaining the existing limit of one month's rent for security deposits. It does not change the maximum deposit amount or other existing tenant protections.
Maddy summaryHB 5503 would require landlords to have "good cause" to evict tenants in most residential rental properties, directly affecting renters and landlords covered by the law. The bill specifies that landlords can only remove tenants for defined reasons like nonpayment of rent (with limits on unreasonable rent increases) or serious lease violations, and must go through court to enforce evictions. It excludes certain properties, such as owner-occupied buildings with fewer than five units or housing tied to employment. The bill is currently under review by a committee and has not yet become law.
Amends the current law on health insurance coverage for fertility diagnostic care, standard fertility preservation services, and fertility treatment and requires coverage for any medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and medical services.
Maddy summaryHB 5552, the "Price Tags Act," requires grocery suppliers to offer identical pricing and terms to all retailers purchasing the same products in similar quantities. It directly affects large food suppliers (with over $6 billion in annual sales to RI retailers) and dominant grocery chains (with over $18 billion in annual sales across 20+ states). Key provisions mandate suppliers to share anonymized pricing data with smaller retailers upon request and prohibit refusing sales to non-dominant retailers without valid reasons. The law aims to prevent large chains from leveraging their size to secure better deals, ensuring smaller grocery stores in Rhode Island receive fair treatment in pricing negotiations.
