Rep. Matthew Dawson

Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5884 amends existing Rhode Island law regarding tinted windows on motor vehicles. The bill specifically creates a new exemption for members of the Rhode Island judiciary. This means that motor vehicles owned and operated by Rhode Island judiciary members would not be subject to the state's restrictions on nontransparent windshields and windows.

Maddy summaryHB 6229 repeals the existing State Crime Laboratory Commission, which currently oversees the Rhode Island state crime laboratory. This bill dismantles the commission's structure, including its specific membership and powers to set policy and budget. Instead, it establishes the state crime laboratory directly within the Department of Attorney General. This shifts the administrative and oversight responsibilities for the state's crime lab from an independent commission to the Attorney General's office.

Maddy summaryHB 5194 seeks to provide property tax relief to elderly and disabled persons who own or rent their homes. The bill increases the maximum income threshold for eligibility for property tax credits to $50,000. It also raises the maximum available tax credit to $850 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Furthermore, the bill introduces annual adjustments to both the income range and the maximum credit based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).

Requires persons convicted of driving under influence or refusal to submit to chemical test, have an ignition interlock system installed in vehicle as part of sentence and to pay an assessment to pay for the interlock systems.

Provides that evidence of life or work expectancy shall be based on statistical data using blended statistics and shall not be based on race, ethnicity or sex.

Establishes VICTIM Fund grant program to support nonprofit organizations providing victim services in Rhode Island with the state allocating $30,000,000 per year to fund the program and staffing within the department of public safety.

Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a seven (7) member board of licensure.

Maddy summaryHB 5766 proposes to reinstate cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for individuals receiving retirement benefits from the state retirement system. These adjustments would become payable to retirees and beneficiaries under a specific condition. The bill's key mechanism specifies that COLAs will be granted only when the retirement system's annual investment return exceeds ten percent.