Rep. Jenni Furtado

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.

Provides that for the period up until July 1, 2027, an applicant for a teaching certificate in Rhode Island would not be required to complete a standardized teacher's examination as a prerequisite to obtaining a teaching certificate.

This joint resolution would propose to the voters a constitutional amendment which would allow a criminal defendant to argue jury nullification as a defense.

Requires employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandates quarterly supervisor training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks.

Mandates that a cannabis dispensary display the signage warning that the consumption of marijuana and THC products during pregnancy poses risks to infant development.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution designating February 6, 2025, as "New England Freedmen’s Aid Society Day" in Rhode Island. It recognizes the historical work of the Freedmen’s Aid Society (founded in 1859 by the American Missionary Association), which established over 500 schools in the South to educate formerly enslaved people and their children, significantly improving African American literacy rates by the early 1900s. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Rhode Island NAACP. As a non-binding commemorative measure, it does not create new laws or policies but honors this historical effort. The resolution was passed by the Rhode Island House on February 6, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a symbolic resolution (not a law) proclaiming February 2025 as "American Heart Month" in Rhode Island. It cites local heart disease statistics (217 deaths per 100,000 in 2022) and aligns with the national American Heart Month focus on heart health awareness. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Rhode Island Department of Health and the American Heart Association - Rhode Island. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups; it solely serves to raise public awareness through symbolic recognition.