Rep. Lauren Carson

Maddy summaryHB 5282, titled "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act," amends how the state calculates funding for special education services provided by local school districts. The bill redefines "extraordinary costs" for individual special education students, which are expenses above a certain threshold. It gradually lowers this financial threshold over three fiscal years, starting in FY 2027, making more special education costs eligible for state reimbursement sooner. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will also collect data on various cost thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 5535 proposes to amend the state's sales and use tax laws. This bill specifically exempts "behind-the-meter batteries interconnected with a solar photovoltaic system" from sales tax. The key mechanism is adding these specific energy storage systems to the list of items not subject to sales and use taxes. This change would directly affect individuals and businesses purchasing such solar battery systems by reducing their upfront cost.

Maddy summaryHB 6276, the Rhode Island Property Resilience Act, aims to protect homes and businesses across Rhode Island from the impacts of flooding and sea level rise. The bill establishes a Rhode Island Flood Mitigation Council to oversee a statewide flood audit program. This program would assess properties for flood risks and provide owners with recommendations for mitigation measures, such as structural elevation or floodproofing. The goal is to enhance the state's resilience, protect property values, and help stabilize the municipal tax base while minimizing insurance rate increases and property loss.

Maddy summaryHB 6206 establishes the Beverage Container Recycling Act, creating a statewide recycling refund program for certain beverage containers. Under this act, "producers" (brand owners) are responsible for compliance with the program's requirements. It defines various types of "redemption sites," such as "express redemption sites" for virtual account credits and "full-service redemption sites" for immediate refunds, where "consumers" can return eligible empty containers. This system aims to promote the collection and recycling of beverages by providing a financial incentive for returns.

Includes "hosting platform" under the definition of "room-seller" and imposes a tax of 5% on the rental of a house or condominium with the tax used exclusively for infrastructure improvements, riverine and coastal resiliency and housing.

Maddy summaryHB 5779, titled the "2021 Act on Climate," proposes to increase a fee imposed on petroleum products received at marine terminals in the state. The bill would raise the uniform oil spill response and prevention fee from five cents to ten cents for each barrel of petroleum products. These collected funds, along with existing money from the Oil Spill Prevention, Administration, and Response Fund and the Underground Storage Tank Financial Responsibility Act, would be directed towards climate change initiatives. Specifically, the funds would support the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council's efforts to reduce climate emissions and meet the goals of the 2021 Act on Climate.

Maddy summaryHB 6205, titled the "Extended Producer Responsibility For Packaging and Paper Act," creates a new program to manage the recycling of packaging and paper products. This bill makes product producers responsible for funding and improving municipal recycling programs. These programs would cover the collection, transportation, sorting, and processing of defined packaging and paper products from single-family and multi-family residences. The aim is to enhance the coordination, funding, and overall effectiveness of the state's recycling systems for these materials.

Maddy summaryHB 5195 establishes a program to reduce solid waste and promote composting and organic waste diversion in the state. It creates a new solid waste disposal surcharge of two dollars ($2.00) per ton, to be paid by entities disposing of waste at refuse disposal facilities. Revenue from this surcharge will fund a new "Compost Fund," administered by the Department of Environmental Management. This fund will award grants to support projects related to reducing solid waste, rescuing surplus food, recovering shells, producing and using compost, and minimizing illegal dumping.

Allows the town of Middletown to adopt a tax classification plan for residential real estate which divides the class into non-owner and owner-occupied properties with separate tax rates.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6311 proclaims May 8, 2025, as "Arts Day in Rhode Island." This resolution encourages all Rhode Islanders to recognize the enriching role of arts and culture in their communities.