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 5432 prohibits health insurance providers from requiring preauthorization for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services. This directly affects patients seeking these treatments and insurers who must comply with the new rule. The key provision removes a common administrative barrier, allowing patients to access covered in-network care without prior insurer approval. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and aligns with existing parity requirements for mental health coverage.
Exempts certain urban and small farmers from sales taxes, real, tangible and personal property taxes and income taxes. This act would also define urban and small farmers and urban farmland.
Requires quarterly testing of biosolids for PFAS contaminants by those seeking to apply biosolids to lands, with subsequent reports to the department of environmental management.
Maddy summaryHB 5882 shortens the training requirement for school bus drivers in Rhode Island who already hold a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). Specifically, it reduces the standard 10-hour school bus driver training course to a shorter, focused program covering only Rhode Island-specific rules and safety requirements. This change directly affects CDL holders seeking to drive school buses in Rhode Island, streamlining their path to certification without altering safety standards or background checks. The bill does not change other requirements, such as passing written/driver tests or providing proof of residency and employment.
Permits a certified foot care nurse or a certified foot care specialist, to provide certain at-home foot care, including routine foot and nail care including nail clipping.
Prohibits the use of service agreements that are unfair to an owner of residential real estate who enters into such an agreement or to persons who may become owners of that real estate in the future.
Maddy summaryHB 6362 grants the town of Little Compton a one-year exemption from the standard 4% annual property tax levy cap for fiscal year 2026, allowing a maximum 12% increase instead. This directly affects Little Compton's local government and residents, as it permits higher property tax collections for that specific year. The bill amends existing tax law to temporarily override the usual 4% growth limit with a higher 12% cap, subject to approval by the town's financial meeting. It does not change the standard levy cap for other municipalities.
Prohibits the sale of beverages and drink mix powders containing hemp-derived delta-9 THC in RI, unless such products are authorized and regulated under the state’s cannabis laws, and maintains regulatory consistency within the state’s cannabis framework.
