Amends the administration requirements a zoning ordinance must provide and/or designate and would require that zoning certificates be issued within 20 days of the written request.
Provide protection for the rights of professional, administrative and secretarial employees of the department of education to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of employment.
Allows for the enactment of the dietitian licensure compact permitting a licensed dietitian from another state to become licensed within the state, and also permitting a dietitian licensed by the state to become licensed in another compact state.
Requires that every institution of higher education provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member on the institution's campus.
Recognizes the program run by the Rhode Island Medical Society or comparable program for physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and podiatrists, to address burnout, substance abuse, and mental and physical health issues.
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.
Amends the definitions of a “pupil transportation vehicle” to a vehicle contrasted to seat not more than ten (10) passengers plus the operator, rather than the existing limit of eight (8) passengers.
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.
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 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.
