Sen. Jake Bissaillon

Maddy summarySB 2610 creates a legal cause of action for pet owners whose dogs or cats (defined as household pets) are intentionally or negligently injured or killed under specific circumstances. It allows owners to seek noneconomic damages - compensation for loss of companionship, love, and affection - ranging from a minimum of $500 for injury to $750 for death, with a maximum cap of $7,500. The law applies only when the incident occurs on the owner’s property or while the pet is under the owner’s direct supervision. It excludes government agencies and nonprofits acting in public health or animal welfare roles, and defines "seriously injured" as requiring stitches for broken bones or permanent disfigurement.

Maddy summarySB 2611, the Rhode Island Firearm Industry Accountability Act of 2026, requires firearm industry members (including manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of firearms, ammunition, and accessories) to implement "reasonable controls" to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, traffickers, or straw purchasers. It prohibits advertising or marketing that promotes illegal use or increases public safety risks. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation, and affected individuals or the state may file lawsuits to seek damages, injunctions, or restitution. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, for new civil actions.

Changes the application to purchase a firearm. Further, this act would require all persons seeking to possess a firearm except for police and military personnel to complete and pass a basic firearm safety training course.

Maddy summarySB 2295 prohibits individuals from purchasing or possessing more than one firearm within any 30-day period, directly affecting most firearm buyers. Key exemptions include law enforcement officers, inheritances, temporary rentals at licensed shooting ranges, firearm safety courses, and transfers to licensed curio collectors. Violating this rule results in a misdemeanor penalty for a first offense (up to one year in jail or $500 fine) and a felony charge for subsequent offenses (up to three years in jail or $3,000 fine). The bill takes effect upon passage and does not apply to licensed dealers, governmental entities, or court-ordered transfers. This legislation aims to limit rapid multiple firearm acquisitions through specific purchase restrictions.

Mandates all insurance contracts, plans or policies provide insurance coverage for the expense of diagnosing and treating infertility, for women between the ages of twenty-five (25) and forty-two (42) years.

Maddy summaryThis Rhode Island Senate resolution designates April 24, 2026, as "Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" to honor the victims of the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide and the Armenian-American community in the state. The measure formally recognizes the historical events described in the bill text and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the U.S. President, Congress, and various Armenian organizations. Additionally, the bill respectfully requests that the federal government urge Turkey to acknowledge the 1915 events as genocide and to provide restitution for the losses suffered by Armenians.

Allows municipalities to request a one-time, state-approved extension to update comprehensive plans if they show active progress, while keeping the existing plan in effect during the extension period.

Requires that any person convicted of a charge of driving under the influence or refusal to submit to a chemical test, have an ignition interlock system installed in their vehicle as part of any sentence before being eligible for a license reinstatement.

Removes the forfeiture provision for a first offense eluding law enforcement in a high speed pursuit. It would also require that forfeiture of a motor vehicle for a violation of § 31-27-4.1(2) be allowed only after conviction of that offense.

Maddy summarySB 2615 prohibits drivers from occupying the extreme left lane on limited access highways when not passing another vehicle. This rule directly affects drivers traveling on multi-lane highways, requiring them to move right if they are not overtaking slower traffic. The bill amends existing law to clarify that using the left lane for cruising (rather than passing) is a violation subject to existing fines. It takes effect upon passage and applies specifically to highways with multiple lanes where passing is the only permitted use of the left lane.