Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.
Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a housing code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.
Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a 15-member commission to study whether Rhode Island should publicly own its electricity and natural gas utilities. The commission includes legislators, utility representatives, consumer advocates, and labor leaders, and will examine models like Nebraska’s "Neighbor’s First" approach, compare public versus private utility performance, and assess costs, renewable energy transition, and governance structures. It will specifically evaluate potential benefits such as lower consumer costs, access to low-cost debt, and cross-subsidization for public services. The commission must report its findings to the legislature by April 16, 2026, before dissolving on May 27, 2026.
Provides that effective July 1, 2025, the profit margin of any electric distribution company gas distribution company, would not exceed four percent (4%), in any given calendar year.
Maddy summaryHB 5813 prevents utility companies (like electricity and gas providers) from raising transmission and distribution fees on consumer bills for two years, starting July 1, 2025. This freeze applies to all utilities with 7,500 or more accounts, requiring legislative approval for any fee increase during this period. Smaller utilities (under 7,500 accounts) are exempt from this cap. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and directly affects residential and business consumers paying utility bills.
Prohibits public utilities, serving greater 100,000 customers from recovering through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with, amongst other costs, advertising, marketing, communications.
Establishes an intervenor support program to provide compensation for an intervenor who makes a substantial contribution to a proceeding resulting in a decision favorable to the interest of utility consumers.
Maddy summaryHB 5945 creates a new job classification for specialized information technology positions within Rhode Island's state government, directly affecting IT workers in the Division of Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services (ETSS). It allows the state personnel administrator to establish or modify these IT job titles, pay grades, and descriptions without public hearings or governor approval - unlike standard personnel rules. The administrator must submit a detailed report to the governor and legislative committees within 30 days, including the position's title, description, and necessity. This provision excludes IT roles covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Increases the minimum required awarded to minority business enterprises from 15% to 20% and of that, requires a minimum of 10% be awarded to minority owned businesses and a minimum of 10% be awarded to women owned businesses.
Maddy summaryHB 5940 requires owners of qualifying Rhode Island businesses to notify all employees in writing within seven days if they plan to sell the business (or at least 51% of it), giving employees a 30-day exclusive window to form a group and purchase it as an employee-owned business. It applies to private Rhode Island businesses with at least three workers that meet small business size standards and operate locally for over a year. Key provisions include mandating owner transparency (sharing financial records), ensuring existing labor agreements continue post-sale, and offering owners a capital gains tax exemption on sales under $1 million. The bill aims to facilitate worker ownership transitions while protecting democratic governance within the new employee-owned entity.
