Rep. Leo Felix

Sets a clear and enforceable standard for reducing the presence of harmful metals in personal care products, prioritizing public health through testing, labeling, and the development of safer alternatives.

Limits the recovery for personal injuries actions against any town to $3,000 retroactive to all causes of action arising after January 1, 2025, and prohibits the use of subsequent remedial measures in roadway/highway defect cases.

Maddy summaryHB 5931 repeals a law that allowed motor vehicle license suspension for failure to pay traffic fines. This bill directly affects drivers who cannot pay court-imposed fines for traffic violations. The key provision removes the requirement that license suspensions remain in effect until all fines are paid or payment arrangements are made with the court. The repeal eliminates this enforcement mechanism for unpaid traffic fines.

Exempts recovery claims for damages due to a town's neglect in maintaining highways or bridges from the provisions of chapter 31 of title 9 on governmental tort liability.

Caps damages at $100,000 in tort actions against Rhode Island, cities, towns, or fire districts, except for willful misconduct or extreme recklessness. It also exempts them from § 9-21-10.

Maddy summaryHB 5433 amends Rhode Island's Health Care Reform Act to strengthen oversight of health insurance. It requires the health insurance commissioner to hold quarterly public meetings on insurer rates and services, establish an advisory council with consumer and business representatives to address small business insurance affordability, and analyze the impact of merging individual and small-employer insurance markets. The advisory council must produce annual reports on topics like provider fee transparency, claim processes, and data on quality and costs to help consumers make informed choices. These provisions directly affect health insurers, small businesses, and healthcare providers by increasing accountability and transparency in insurance regulation.

Directs the state board of pharmacy to annually identify up to fifteen prescription drugs with increased costs and provide the list to the attorney general to obtain reasons for the cost increases.

Maddy summaryHB 5469 sets aside $2 million for the Small Business Assistance Program's micro-loan component during fiscal year 2025-2026. It requires that 10-25% of program funds be allocated specifically to micro-loans ranging from $2,000 to $25,000. These loans will be administered by lending organizations selected through a competitive process by the Commerce Corporation, which must have experience supporting microenterprises. The bill directly affects small businesses seeking affordable startup or expansion capital through this targeted loan program.

Eliminate all exceptions to the provision that all employees are to be paid weekly except for employees of the state and its political subdivisions, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations with less than twenty-five (25) employees.

Maddy summaryHB 5507 gradually increases the minimum cash wage for employees in tipped occupations (like restaurants and hotels) who rely on gratuities. Starting from $3.89 per hour in 2017, it raises this rate by $0.50 annually until 2026, then increases by $2.00 each year through 2030 to reach $14.95 per hour. By January 1, 2031, these workers will receive the same minimum wage as non-tipped employees, eliminating the tip credit. The bill directly affects tipped workers in qualifying industries and requires employers to pay at least the stated cash wage without deducting gratuities below the specified thresholds.