Rep. Lauren Carson

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 2026 as "Arts in the Schools Month" in Rhode Island to recognize and celebrate the importance of arts education in schools. It directly affects students, arts educators, artists, and school administrators by encouraging the state to acknowledge their contributions to student engagement and learning. The resolution highlights how arts education supports skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and cultural competency while referencing existing state frameworks and grant programs that promote arts instruction. The House of Representatives passed this symbolic measure to urge citizens to observe the month and appreciate the efforts of those working to provide arts access to young people.

Amends the Identity Theft Protection Act by eliminating current definitions and establishing new definitions. This act also raises the penalty provisions for violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to study how wake boats - specialized vessels creating large waves - impact the state's freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. It specifically requests DEM to analyze environmental effects (like sediment disturbance and algae blooms), shoreline erosion, public safety risks, and invasive species transport, while reviewing regulations from other states. If the study finds significant harm, DEM would then develop regulations to limit wake boat operations, such as setting minimum lake sizes, depth requirements, or shoreline setbacks. The resolution directly affects Rhode Island's 237+ freshwater bodies (covering 18,845 acres), which are vulnerable due to their small size and ecological sensitivity.

Amends several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers.

Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs may include the name of the dispensing healthcare practice instead of the name of the dispenser.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially designates March 2026 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in Rhode Island to promote public education about cancer prevention and early detection. The resolution is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the American College of Gastroenterology to highlight the importance of regular screenings, which can significantly improve survival rates by identifying the disease when it is most treatable. The House of Representatives passed the measure to formally recognize the month and authorize the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to the sponsoring organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 7954 requires large social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms prioritize content. It directly affects major platforms with significant user engagement, mandating transparency about algorithmic decision-making. The bill's key provision is a requirement for platforms to explain their content-ranking systems to users and regulators. This aims to increase clarity around how user feeds are curated, without specifying particular content rules or outcomes. The bill is currently under further study in committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 to advance gender equity through research, policy advocacy, and community engagement. The resolution formally recognizes the organization's work in areas such as women's health, economic security, and civic participation, and expresses appreciation for its contributions to improving conditions for women and girls across the state. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the CEO of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island as an official acknowledgment of the organization's achievements.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates March 2026 as Women's History Month in the State of Rhode Island to honor the contributions of women throughout history. The resolution recognizes women's roles in social movements, the economy, and public service while acknowledging their historical underrepresentation in American history. It authorizes the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to the U.S. President, the Rhode Island Governor, and the state's congressional delegation. This is a commemorative measure that does not create new laws or change existing policies.

Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in-store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.