Rep. Jenni Furtado

Mandates additional state education funding for the mental and behavioral health of students equal to 2% of the district’s total expenditures, and require those funds be used to hire staff such as school social workers, and behavioral specialists.

Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act to prevent discrimination in voting by creating new legal standards that political subdivisions must follow. It prohibits election policies or practices that disproportionately affect protected classes based on race, color, language, disability, or other characteristics, without requiring proof of intentional discrimination to establish a violation. The law also addresses vote dilution by restricting election methods that impair the ability of protected groups to elect candidates of their choice, particularly when racially polarized voting is present. Local governments and election administrators would need to ensure their procedures do not create material disparities in voter access or participation opportunities.

Restore the rights of school administrators and staff members, who have retired to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment and work up to one hundred eighty (180) days during a school year.

Allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least twenty-eight (28) years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number eighty-five (85).

Requires all municipal zoning ordinances be amended to provide that any lot with access to public water/sewer services, not establish or enforce a minimum lot area that exceeds 5,000 sq.ft. for a residential building with between one and 4 dwelling units.

Maddy summaryHB 7958 requires that all contracts for capital improvements (such as new construction or major renovations) at healthcare facilities must comply with the fair employment practices standards outlined in chapter 13 of title 37. This directly affects healthcare facilities and their construction contractors by mandating adherence to existing non-discrimination and equal opportunity rules in hiring and employment. The key mechanism is applying these established labor standards to capital improvement contracts, ensuring they include protections against employment discrimination. The bill does not create new requirements but extends current fair employment practices to this specific contracting context. It was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Labor committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 19-25, 2026, as Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in Rhode Island to honor the work of lab staff. It formally recognizes these professionals for their essential role in patient testing and healthcare and thanks them for protecting residents' health. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to the Department of Health and several local health and education leaders. The measure does not change laws or budgets; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution honoring the life and legacy of baseball player Davey Lopes, who passed away after complications from Parkinson's disease. It recognizes his distinguished 45-year career in professional baseball, highlighting his achievements as a second baseman, base stealer, coach, and manager. The resolution expresses the House's condolences and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the document to Lopes's family.

Increases and reallocates the fees collected for motor vehicle inspections, including motorcycle inspections, with an allocation of ten dollars ($10.00) to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA).