Rep. Enrique Sanchez

Maddy summaryHB 5954 authorizes the City of Providence to implement rent control for most multi-family rental housing, directly affecting tenants and landlords in covered properties. The bill allows the city to set annual rent increase limits based on local housing affordability, prohibit excessive rent hikes (capping increases at a percentage of the previous year's rent), and establish "just cause" eviction protections requiring landlords to have valid reasons (like nonpayment or lease violations) to evict tenants. It includes exemptions for small properties (under six units where owner lives there), hotels, student dorms, nonprofit housing, and new constructions under 15 years old. The law aims to address housing insecurity by giving Providence tools to stabilize rents and prevent displacement, while maintaining flexibility for local implementation.

Provides for warming center and cooling center alerts to trigger certain procedures municipalities shall follow during extreme heat or cold to help at-risk individuals with resources including, but not limited to, warming and cooling centers.

Maddy summaryHB 5178 allows individuals with multiple non-violent felony convictions to request the removal of their criminal records after completing their sentences and waiting 10 years. It directly affects people who have served their sentences for two or more non-violent felonies, provided they have no new criminal convictions or outstanding court fees in the 10-year period and were not convicted of violent crimes. The bill amends existing law to permit expungement motions for multiple felony convictions after 10 years (previously limited to single offenses), with strict eligibility requirements including good moral character and no pending charges. This policy change aims to provide a clear pathway for record clearance while maintaining public safety safeguards.

Mandates that the clerk of the district court, upon request of the defendant, automatically seal individual counts of criminal complaints upon dismissal pursuant to rule 48(a) of the rules of criminal procedure for district court.

Prohibits a peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, from employing threats, physical harm, deprivation, deception, coercion, or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial interrogation of a juvenile.

Requires sentencing court to consider whether defendant is parent of child, or caregiver of elderly, disabled or terminally ill person whose well-being would be adversely affected by the person's incarceration and if so, shall impose a non-jail sentence.

Makes it easier to vote for people eligible to vote who are incarcerated at the Rhode Island adult correctional institute and creates the position of "voting coordinator," within the department of corrections.

Maddy summaryHB 5416 prohibits Rhode Island auto insurance companies from using race, ethnicity, zip code, credit scores, gender, education level, or occupation to set rates or classify drivers. The bill also bans penalizing drivers solely for being widowed (vs. married) or for being 65+ years old with a clean driving record (no accidents or violations in three years). Additionally, it prevents insurers from refusing policy renewals based solely on age (65+), low-value claims under $3,000, or minor fault (50% or less) in accidents. The law applies to all private passenger auto insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a housing code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.

Establishes a core state behavioral health crisis services system, to be administered by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals.