Rep. June Speakman

Maddy summaryHB 5698 changes how property taxes are calculated for owner-occupied low- and moderate-income housing. It requires assessors to use a property’s most recent sales price - not standard market value - as the tax assessment basis for qualifying housing units. This directly affects homeowners in designated low- and moderate-income housing that serves as owner-occupied residences. The change prevents tax increases tied to rising market values, maintaining affordability for eligible homeowners.

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 5686 requires Rhode Island municipalities to maintain and update a current list of rights-of-way to tidal areas designated by the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). This affects all cities and towns within Rhode Island that have coastal areas or tidal waterways. The bill mandates that municipalities regularly review and revise these lists to ensure accurate records of public access and infrastructure near tidal zones. This update supports the CRMC’s broader coastal management efforts by providing clear, up-to-date information for planning and resource protection.

Maddy summaryHB 6060 extends the authorization for licensed physical therapists to order diagnostic imaging (like X-rays or MRIs) beyond the original December 31, 2025, sunset date. The bill modifies existing law to permanently remove the expiration date, allowing physical therapists to continue this practice without further legislative action. It maintains existing requirements, including reporting imaging results to a patient’s primary care physician within seven days (if one exists) and mandating annual utilization reports from healthcare plans to the legislature. This directly affects physical therapists and their patients by preserving current clinical authority.

Maddy summaryHB 6323 renames the East Bay Bike Path Bridge in Warren (spanning the Palmer River) as the Cpl. Richard C. Brule Bridge. This bill directly affects the location by changing its official name to honor a specific individual. The legislation is purely procedural, with no policy changes beyond the naming designation. It passed both chambers and was signed into law on June 23, 2025.

Amends the certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and requires reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors.

Maddy summaryHB 5493 establishes a mandatory energy benchmarking program for large buildings in Rhode Island. It requires owners of commercial and residential buildings over 25,000 square feet (with larger buildings starting in 2027 and smaller ones in 2029) to annually report energy use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. The collected data will be publicly posted to increase transparency about building energy performance. Exemptions apply for unoccupied properties, those undergoing demolition, or properties without energy services during the reporting year. The law focuses solely on data collection and reporting, not on requiring energy upgrades.

Maddy summaryHB 5622 requires the state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact by July 1, 2025, enabling out-of-state medical providers to practice telemedicine in the state more easily. It directly affects patients seeking telehealth services and out-of-state doctors who want to provide care across state lines. The bill creates new rules allowing patients to access telemedicine from out-of-state providers under the compact and directs health agencies to develop implementing regulations. This changes how medical licensure is handled for telehealth, removing barriers for providers from participating states.