Increases from 7 days to 9 days the period of time in which a request for a recount of the votes cast can be made to the board of elections and no certificates of election may be issued until the recount, if any, is completed.
Increases the maximum fill for non-opioid, non-narcotic controlled substances found in schedule II, so that a sixty-day (60) supply may be dispensed at any one time.
Increases the role of the DMV in the voter registration and address verification process, by establishing very specific obligations and responsibilities that must be followed before offering an individual an application to register to vote.
Provide to provide greater clarity in insurance claim settlements, the appraisal process and procedural safeguards to enhance consumer protections against bad faith practices by insurers.
Maddy summaryHB 5838 ensures schools provide appropriate support for English language learners (ELLs) and English as a second language (ESL) students during individualized education plan (IEP) processes. It requires evaluations to be conducted in a student’s primary language, mandates IEP teams to include experts in second-language acquisition, and prohibits school districts from pressuring families to decline language services. The bill also requires schools to use trained bilingual interpreters for parent communication and ensures IEPs address both language learning and disability needs. These changes directly affect ELL/ESL students, their families, and school districts in Rhode Island.
Maddy summaryHB 5514 exempts emergency mail ballots from needing the "Mail voters" wording on the ballot, while regular mail ballots still require this label. This change specifically applies to ballots cast during emergencies under §17-20-2.2(g), streamlining the ballot design for those situations. The bill amends the existing requirement in Section 17-20-18 of the General Laws to remove the wording mandate only for emergency mail ballots. It directly affects voters receiving emergency mail ballots during declared emergencies, without altering voting rights or procedures. The change takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes Pawtucket's property tax system by creating new classifications for residential properties. It expands Class 1 to include buildings with up to six dwelling units if at least one is owner-occupied (previously five units), and establishes Class 5 for buildings with five or fewer units where no units are owner-occupied. The bill also limits Class 5 tax rates to no more than 175% of Class 1 rates. These changes directly affect Pawtucket property owners, particularly landlords of multi-unit residential buildings, by altering how their properties are taxed based on occupancy and unit count.
Maddy summaryHB 6348 exempts the real and tangible personal property (like buildings and physical assets) of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center in Pawtucket from local property taxes. This targeted exemption directly affects only this specific nonprofit organization, adding it to Rhode Island’s existing list of tax-exempt entities. The bill amends the property taxation law by inserting the center as a new category under the "property exempt" section. It does not change general tax rules but creates a specific exception for this organization’s property.
Maddy summaryHB 5992 amends Rhode Island's Works Program to allow lawful permanent residents (green card holders) to receive cash assistance benefits immediately, without the previous waiting period. The bill directly affects eligible immigrants who previously faced a delay in accessing state aid despite meeting other program requirements. This change removes a specific barrier by updating eligibility rules to grant immediate access to benefits for lawful permanent residents who qualify under the program's other criteria.
RDC), $250,000 TO HIGHER GROUND INTERNATIONAL, AND $250,000 TO DORCAS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RHODE ISLAND (Authorizes $250,000 to REFUGEE DREAM CENTER (RDC), $250,000 to HIGHER GROUND INTERNATIONAL, and $250,000 to DORCAS INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RHODE ISLAND
