Sen. Jake Bissaillon

Maddy summarySB 125 sets the state's minimum wage at $16 per hour starting January 1, 2026, and increases it to $17 per hour starting January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all covered employers and hourly workers in the state who are subject to minimum wage laws. The legislation amends the existing minimum wage schedule by adding these specific future rates, building on previous annual increases. The change takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as confirmed by the bill's recent passage and signing on June 24, 2025.

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Codac, Inc., a Rhode Island nonprofit domestic corporation, located at 45 Royal Little Drive in Providence, Rhode Island.

Maddy summarySB 296 repeals a provision requiring women in the community corrections program for women offenders to pay additional penalties for prostitution-related offenses. Specifically, it removes the $500 fee for felony charges (or 10% of any fine, whichever is greater) and the $350 fee for misdemeanor charges (or 10% of any fine, whichever is greater). This change directly affects women participating in the community corrections program who are convicted of prostitution-related offenses, eliminating these financial obligations. The repeal takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage.

Maddy summarySB 614 is a technical correction bill that updates reporting requirements for alcohol beverage taxes and clarifies the allocation of motor fuel tax proceeds. It requires Class A alcohol licensees to submit annual sales and tax reports by February 1st, with the tax administrator compiling county-level data for legislative committees by May 1st. The bill also specifies exact cents-per-gallon allocations from motor fuel taxes for public transit (starting 2004), the Elderly/Disabled Transportation Program (starting 2010), and general revenue, while directing $0.035 per gallon to the Sakonnet River Bridge maintenance fund starting in 2015. It does not create new taxes or change existing rates, but refines administrative processes and funding distribution.

Provides an exemption for certain incarcerated persons from the payment of fees for a first request for vital statistics from the department of health.

Clarifies roles and regulatory authority for the administration of the program involving the repurposing of vacant schools for housing, extends the deadline for conducting feasibility studies and expands access to all municipalities.

Maddy summarySB 722 requires construction sites to maintain an open access point for workers during all work hours, prohibiting locked gates, fences, or barriers that obstruct entry or exit. It directly affects construction site owners, operators, and managers on both public and private property. Violations result in a written warning for the first offense, followed by a $1,000 daily fine and immediate work stoppage for subsequent violations. The law aims to ensure workers can freely enter and exit sites while work is ongoing, with no exceptions during active construction. It took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on June 24, 2025.

Provides that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education directs all local education agencies to select one of the identified high-quality curricula and materials for science and technology no later than June 30, 2026.

Makes certain technical amendments /clarifications to the statutes relating to the assessment of real property and the timing and process to appeals thereof.

Ensures that the department of housing is able to access the full calendar year worth of housing choice voucher data for the annual report required by this section and amends the content of the information required to be submitted in the annual report.