Rep. Mary Messier

Maddy summaryHR 7263 is a symbolic resolution designating January 23, 2026, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Rhode Island. It does not create new laws, funding, or programs but serves to publicly highlight maternal health issues, including preventable deaths and racial disparities in care. The resolution references state efforts like the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee and ongoing collaborations to address maternal health challenges. It was passed by the Rhode Island House of Representatives on January 22, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 7168) formally honors Nayasia A. Gonzalez, a 19-year-old Providence resident and nurse student who died tragically in 2025, by recording her name in Rhode Island's legislative archives. It expresses condolences to her family and affirms her legacy will be preserved in state historical records, with certified copies sent to her parents, Raisa Gonzalez and Iryan J. "Jerome" Aubert. The resolution does not create new laws or affect policy; it is a commemorative gesture recognizing her life and community contributions.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial House Resolution, not a policy bill. It formally extends condolences from the Rhode Island House of Representatives to the family of Thomas E. Hodge, a former Pawtucket City Council member and State Representative who served the community for decades. The resolution recognizes his long service, business ownership, and community roles, including his work with the Pawtucket Arts Council and as homeless liaison. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to his family. This is a symbolic gesture with no legal effect or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution expresses the Rhode Island House of Representatives' condolences on the passing of former state representative Joseph A. Capineri (1957-1980), who served District 81 in Pawtucket for 24 years. It details his career as a lawyer, community involvement, and family, including his son, Associate Justice Stephen J. Capineri, and daughter Lisa Millar. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to his surviving children. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legislative effect or policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 6173 establishes the Rhode Island Anti-Bid-Rigging Act to prohibit coordinated schemes that manipulate competitive bidding for government contracts. The law defines "bid rigging" as activities like price fixing, identical bids, or rotating bids among contractors or officials, making it a felony punishable by up to 3 years in prison and fines up to $1 million or three times the contract value. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and government officials involved in public procurement, prohibiting them from conspiring to influence bids or improperly sharing sensitive bid information. Violators face debarment from state contracts for up to five years, with government entities required to maintain exclusion lists. The law applies to all state and local government procurement processes under Titles 37 and 45.

Amends the definition of “hobby breeder” to limit the sale or offering for sale to no more than two (2) litters of dogs or cats, or a combination thereof, in a three hundred and sixty-five (365) day period.

Provide protection for the rights of professional, administrative and secretarial employees of the department of education to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of employment.

Creates a special license plate for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc. that would support the Blackstone River Valley Environmental Clean-up and Education Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 5695 allows municipalities to hold local tax amnesty events once every three years, enabling residents to avoid late fees on overdue real estate, property, and vehicle taxes. The bill permits cities to create two separate 60-day periods annually (during 2024-2025) where taxpayers can submit written requests to waive interest and penalties. It excludes taxes owed for the current tax year during amnesty periods and requires tax officials to provide written decisions, with appeals to city councils within 10 days if denied. This directly affects taxpayers with overdue local tax payments and gives municipalities a structured process to encourage payment without penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 5421 requires all school buses in the state to be equipped with live digital video monitoring systems that record license plates, location, time, and date of traffic violations. School districts must install these systems on new buses starting July 1, 2027, and on all buses by July 1, 2032. The systems enable remote monitoring of drivers passing stopped school buses, with violations documented through video evidence and processed via traffic tribunals. This directly affects school bus operators, drivers who violate stop-arm laws, and local governments handling enforcement and fines.