Rep. Jason Knight

Maddy summaryHB 7895 proposes the Safe School Technology Act of 2026, which would establish new regulations for technology use in schools. The bill directly affects school districts, educational institutions, and technology vendors by setting standards for implementing surveillance and monitoring systems in educational settings. Key provisions would likely include guidelines for data privacy, requirements for parental notification, and standards for how student information is collected and stored through school technology systems. This legislation aims to create a framework for balancing safety concerns with privacy rights in the digital school environment.

Maddy summaryHR 7340 is a non-binding House resolution urging Rhode Island insurers and the Rhode Island Property Insurance Association to pursue subrogation claims against fossil fuel polluters who knowingly misled the public about climate impacts. It directly affects homeowners by seeking to lower insurance costs through reimbursement from polluters, similar to past cases involving tobacco and opioids. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages insurers to use existing legal mechanisms to recover costs from polluters responsible for climate-related damages that drive up premiums. It was introduced to the House Corporations committee on January 28, 2026.

Makes changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public.

Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.

Maddy summaryHB 8052 creates a new legal claim for individuals harmed by artificial intelligence systems, allowing them to sue responsible parties in court. It directly affects people injured by AI applications, such as those causing physical harm or financial loss through faulty AI decisions. The bill establishes clear procedures for filing these lawsuits within civil court systems. Currently introduced to the House Judiciary committee (as of February 27, 2026), it has not yet been voted on or passed. This is a substantive policy change, not a procedural measure.

Maddy summaryHB 7981 establishes ranked choice voting (RCV) for municipal elections in jurisdictions where voters approve a charter amendment. It directly affects municipalities that adopt charter changes through voter approval, requiring RCV to be used in subsequent municipal elections. The bill's key mechanism is automatic implementation: once a municipality's charter amendment passes with voter support, RCV becomes the default voting method for local elections. This applies to all municipal elections held under the new charter, without requiring additional legislative action. The bill is currently in the early stage of the legislative process, having been introduced on February 27, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 7917 requires all Rhode Island state agencies and state-funded organizations (like public authorities) to integrate the state’s December 2025 climate strategy report into their annual budgets, capital plans, and strategic documents starting in fiscal year 2027. It mandates that each budget or project submission include a specific emissions impact assessment (showing if it reduces, maintains, or increases emissions) and a certification signed by the agency head confirming compliance. Non-compliant submissions will be rejected by the Office of Management and Budget, and agencies must publicly post their assessments and certifications. This law directly affects how state funds are allocated, ensuring all major spending aligns with Rhode Island’s legally binding climate targets.

Maddy summaryHB 7004 establishes the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026, requiring fossil fuel producers responsible for over one billion tons of emissions during 2000-2025 to reimburse the state and municipalities for climate adaptation costs. It directly affects major fossil fuel companies (coal, oil, gas producers) determined to have caused significant climate-related damages. The bill creates a fund to cover "climate change response work," including coastal protection, infrastructure upgrades, and heat mitigation projects, using scientifically verified emission attribution methods aligned with IPCC standards. Funds will offset taxpayer costs for climate resilience efforts already underway, following the "polluter pays" principle.

Maddy summaryHB 8119 prohibits state law enforcement agencies and other entities from purchasing personal data without a warrant for any criminal, civil, or investigatory activity. It directly affects government agencies that might otherwise buy location records, browsing history, or other sensitive personal information from third-party data brokers. The bill’s key provision requires a court-issued warrant before any agency can obtain such data, aligning with Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. This applies to all enforcement actions, including investigations into crimes or civil matters, without exception.

Requires a nursing and assisted living facility to allow its residents to connect their electronic monitoring devices to its internet service without incurring any extra cost or charges.