Rep. John Lombardi

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 6350 amends the current laws regarding hotel taxes. It allows individual cities and towns to levy an additional local hotel tax of up to two percent (2%). This new local tax would be added to the existing one percent (1%) local hotel tax and the five percent (5%) state hotel tax. The state's division of taxation would administer and collect these local taxes, distributing the funds to the city or town where the hotel is located.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 6307 proposes the creation of a special motor vehicle registration plate for the nonprofit organization Real Access Motivates Progress. Vehicle owners who choose this plate will pay an additional $40 issuance surcharge, with half of that amount going to the state's general fund and the other half directed to the charity for accessibility programs. A $10 surcharge will also apply to subsequent annual renewals, which will be fully allocated to Real Access Motivates Progress. The bill requires the charity to use these Rhode Island-sourced funds for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations and submit annual accounting reports.

Authorizes a host city or town to impose a two percent (2%) tax on the endowment of a private institution of higher education that is in excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000), to be used only for the host public school district.

Maddy summaryHB 5398 revises the state's education-aid formula, specifically impacting how funding is allocated to public school districts for high-need students. The bill modifies the "student success factor" by adding an additional multiplier to the calculation. It changes how students from low-income families (below 185% of federal poverty guidelines) are identified for funding, shifting to a measure based on SNAP participation starting in FY 2024. Additionally, it adjusts the funding factor for multilingual learners (MLLs) and requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop recommendations for MLL student support.

Maddy summaryHB 6256 proposes to repeal the current property tax exemption for boats. It also eliminates the sales and use tax exemption that applies to boats. If enacted, this bill would make boats subject to both property taxes and sales and use taxes, affecting individuals and businesses that own or purchase them.

Maddy summaryHB 6107 establishes a pilot program for a virtual reality learning platform aimed at improving math and science skills for students in grades 6 through 12. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the bill appropriates $2 million to fund this program. The Department of Education will select a platform through a request for proposal process, which must offer tactile, multimodal learning experiences and demonstrated improvement in Algebra 1. The funds will also be used to train middle and high school mathematics teachers in selected districts to use virtual reality technology in their classrooms.

Extends the reporting and expiration dates of the commission to study a plan and the design of a Vietnam Memorial in Providence, from January 31, 2025, to January 31, 2028, and said commission would expire on April 30, 2028.

Reduces the time, from three (3) years to six (6) months, required for a nonimmigrant foreign national student, who has resided in Rhode Island, to be eligible to pay the same in-state tuition as any other Rhode Island student.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 6281 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on April 30, 2025. It expresses gratitude to American service members and acknowledges the losses and suffering endured by all involved in the conflict.

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2026.