Rep. Enrique Sanchez

Establishes the Rhode Island education funding and accountability act, which would include a totally revised and revamped formula for funding all levels of public education in Rhode Island.

Maddy summaryHB 7218 creates the Crook Point Bridge Authority, an independent entity separate from Providence city government and the state, to maintain the Crook Point Bascule Bridge and related property. The authority will be governed by a 3-member board appointed by the mayor (with city council approval), with members serving five-year terms and no compensation. Key provisions include the authority’s power to manage finances, enter contracts, borrow funds, and handle maintenance without burdening city or state budgets or taxes. The bill ensures the bridge’s upkeep is managed through a dedicated body, with annual financial reports submitted to city officials.

Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.

Amends the school funding formula to ensure that local education authorities do not lose funding due to disruptions in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to require landlords to give tenants a receipt whenever rent is paid in cash. The rule applies directly to residential property owners and tenants who use cash for rent payments. Landlords must provide the receipt at the exact moment they receive the payment, ensuring there is immediate proof of the transaction. The law would become effective immediately after it is passed by the legislature.

Allows sealing of eviction records for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction for individuals between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who didn't sign the lease.

Revises the calculation for the student success factor in the education-aid formula by adding an additional multiplier for twenty-five percent (25%) for each resident child who is identified as a multilingual learner.

Makes several amendments to the cannabis act relating to applications for licensure, the social equity assistance program and the application of cannabis tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution appropriates $500,000 from state funds to the United Way of Rhode Island for operational support of its 2-1-1 human services hotline. The 2-1-1 system provides Rhode Islanders with free, 24/7 access to confidential assistance - covering housing, healthcare, food, disaster response, and other critical services - in nearly 200 languages. The funding directly supports the hotline’s existing operations, which handled over 190,000 requests in 2023-2024. It does not create new services or policy changes but ensures continued access to an established resource for residents seeking immediate help.

Maddy summaryHR 7259 is a joint resolution appropriating $3,000,000 from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Food Bank for fiscal year 2026-2027. It directly supports the Food Bank’s operations, which serve 137 member agencies across Rhode Island, as federal SNAP benefits for approximately 32,000 residents are set to decrease or end due to recent federal legislation. The resolution authorizes the state controller to fund the Food Bank as needed through vouchers, addressing increased demand for food assistance amid rising food insecurity. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and it applies solely to state budget allocation for the Food Bank.