Rep. Michelle McGaw

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state laws to create consistent rules for zoning accessory dwelling units, which are secondary living spaces like detached garages or basement apartments built on the same lot as a main home. By standardizing definitions and requirements across all towns and cities, the legislation ensures that local zoning ordinances apply these housing types uniformly. The changes directly affect local governments, property owners, and developers by establishing clear guidelines for what constitutes an ADU and how it must be integrated into existing neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act to officially include mobile and manufactured homes as a form of affordable housing under specific conditions. To qualify, these homes must serve as a primary residence, be located on land owned by the resident or a community they own, have been built after June 15, 1976, and meet federal safety standards. The legislation also updates the state's definition of affordable housing to ensure it covers various types of year-round living arrangements, including those accepting rental vouchers. By making this change, the law expands the scope of housing inventory that local communities can count toward their affordable housing goals.

Maddy summaryHB 7350 establishes the Social Work Licensure Compact, a new agreement that allows licensed social workers to practice across multiple states with a single license. This legislation directly affects social work professionals who wish to move between states or provide telehealth services to clients in different jurisdictions, as well as the state agencies that regulate these professions. The bill creates a commission to manage the compact and maintain a shared database of licensure and disciplinary records, while ensuring that each state retains the authority to protect public health and safety. By eliminating the need for separate licenses in every state, the measure aims to reduce administrative burdens, improve access to social work services, and better support military families.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests HealthSource RI to form a working group that studies how to make health insurance more affordable for Rhode Islanders in the individual market. The group will examine options to lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, particularly as federal financial support is set to expire in 2025. Members of the working group will include government officials, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and consumer advocates. The group must submit its recommendations and proposed funding sources to state leaders by January 31, 2025.

Establishes the renewable ready program and fund to promotes the responsible siting/development of renewable energy generating resources in locations where it would be an ancillary beneficial use to the redevelopment of previously contaminated property.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers to cover and pay for specific infused prescription drugs that are administered by doctors or clinics, rather than refusing payment just because the drug was dispensed at the treatment site. The law defines these drugs as those that patients cannot safely give themselves and mandates that insurance reimbursement rates for these drugs match the rates paid to preferred pharmacies. Additionally, the bill directs the state health insurance commissioner to study how these payments are calculated after 2025 and report findings to the legislature by early 2026. By amending laws related to accident and sickness insurance, nonprofit hospitals, and medical service corporations, the measure ensures that patients receive necessary treatments without facing insurance denials based on where the drug is dispensed.

Provides that supported decision-making pursuant to chapter 66.13 of title 42 be added to the Limited Guardianship and Guardianship of Adults forms section as one of the less restrictive alternatives to guardianship that have been explored.

Maddy summaryHB 7440 amends state fishing regulations to permit the harvesting of blue crabs during nighttime hours, changing the previous rule that restricted catching to daylight only. The bill directly affects residents of the state who fish for blue crabs by allowing them to use scoops, crab nets, trot lines, or hand lines after sunset and before sunrise. Additionally, the legislation corrects a terminology error by updating "land line" to "hand line" in the relevant section of the law. This change expands the time window available for crabbing without altering the required equipment or residency requirements.

Requires that the DEM rules and regulations for remediation of hazardous material releases not include any provision requiring the remediation of arsenic which is naturally occurring at levels less than 19 parts per million.

Amends various sections of law relating to elections, nomination papers and the process of obtaining signatures for nomination papers and would provide a notification procedure for the reporting of consistent patterns of forgery on nomination papers.