Rep. David Morales

Maddy summaryBill HB 6072 proposes to establish a child tax credit within Rhode Island's personal income tax system. This credit would allow taxpayers to claim one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each dependent. The bill amends existing state tax laws to incorporate this new credit, directly affecting Rhode Island residents who pay personal income tax and have dependents.

Maddy summaryHB 6106 requires owners of "large multi-family dwellings" (buildings with more than 12 residential units) to obtain insurance that covers temporary housing for displaced tenants. This insurance must provide at least 30 days of alternate accommodations and storage costs if the building becomes uninhabitable due to events like fire, natural disaster, or loss of its certificate of occupancy. Landlords must inform tenants of this coverage, and the Department of Business Regulation can enforce compliance with fines. Tenants are also granted rights, including prompt notification of relocation arrangements and the ability to pursue legal action for non-compliance.

Requires all entities delegated eminent domain powers under this section to adopt a plan and approval prior to exercising such power for a public purpose.

Requires the disclosure of the transfer of certain assets of healthcare facilities and provides penalties for failing to file healthcare facility ownership information.

Maddy summaryHB 5836 requires every high school in Rhode Island to offer a yearlong "ethnic studies" course starting with the 2026-27 school year. This course would study American history and the experiences of racialized communities, including specific histories such as Native American, Black, Asian American, and Latin American. It would become a social studies core credit and a high school graduation requirement for students graduating in 2030 and beyond. The bill also establishes a student-led ethnic studies leadership council to oversee curriculum development and implementation.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 5488, "The School Libraries Act," mandates that every public school in the state establish and maintain a dedicated school library. It requires these libraries to include essential elements such as adequate book collections, study space, technology, and a budget for materials. The bill also stipulates that all public schools must employ certified school librarians, with staffing levels varying based on student population and a phased implementation schedule extending through the 2030-2031 school year. Furthermore, it ensures students have daily access to their school library resources, including extended hours for secondary schools.

Requires certain health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, subject to certain restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 5523 requires all public bodies to offer translation and interpretation services for their open meetings. This bill directly affects individuals who need language assistance, including American Sign Language (ASL), to understand or participate in these public proceedings. Public bodies would need to develop a "translation assistance plan" to ensure meeting accessibility upon request. These plans must be implemented by September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 5762 proposes to recalculate retirement allowances and pension benefits for teachers, state employees, and municipal employees. The bill establishes new percentage allowance schedules for determining benefits based on an employee's years of service, with different rates for various periods of service. It also revises the method for calculating a retiree's average highest compensation, specifying different look-back periods depending on their retirement date and membership start date. These changes include new calculation methods for service before and after July 1, 2012, with additional adjustments taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Allows municipalities to enact ordinances that would permit municipalities and water suppliers to enter properties to perform lead service line replacements and permit tenants to request and schedule private side lead service line replacements.