Rep. Jennifer Boylan

Maddy summaryHB 5300 amends Rhode Island's criminal code to specifically include election officials and poll workers under the legal definition of "public officials" when addressing threats. This makes threats against these individuals - such as poll workers, election workers, wardens, moderators, and board members - a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. Previously, threats against similar roles might have been treated under broader or less specific provisions. The bill directly affects election workers who perform duties at polling places during elections, providing clearer legal protection for them. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Requires that every institution of higher education provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member on the institution's campus.

Maddy summaryHB 5357 repeals a provision that required women in the community corrections program for women offenders to pay additional fees for prostitution-related offenses. Specifically, it removes mandatory assessments of $500 for felony convictions or $350 for misdemeanor convictions, which were previously added to court fines. This change directly affects women sentenced to community correctional programs under the program’s eligibility criteria (those sentenced to two years or less or awaiting trial in women’s correctional facilities). The bill eliminates these financial penalties, ensuring women in the program are no longer subject to these extra costs. The bill became law after being signed by the governor on June 24, 2025.

Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals."

Maddy summaryHB 5563 requires all hotel employees and short-term rental property operators (like Airbnb hosts) to complete annual human trafficking awareness training. The training covers identifying trafficking signs, distinguishing labor vs. sex trafficking in hospitality settings, and reporting procedures to the national hotline or local law enforcement. Operators must also create written policies for reporting suspected trafficking and keep training records for one year after employment ends. This law takes effect January 1, 2026, directly impacting hospitality businesses statewide.

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.

Authorizes the Rhode Island infrastructure bank to establish a fund to provide financial assistance to local government units for resiliency and stormwater abatement projects.

Updates and expands the current law to include menopause and menopause related conditions in the law on fair employment practices pertaining to pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 5598 requires all public schools in the state to create and implement a written policy restricting student use of personal electronic devices (like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches) during school hours and school activities. The policy must aim to reduce distractions, support learning, and protect student privacy and safety, while explicitly allowing exceptions for students needing assistive technology under IEPs/504 plans, medical devices (e.g., glucose monitors), or language support programs. Schools must develop these policies in consultation with staff representatives, notify parents, and file them with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which will provide annual guidance. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026.

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.