Sen. Jake Bissaillon

Permits a tenant, at the tenant’s expense, to implement energy conservation measures to any dwelling or dwelling unit such as removable weather-stripping around doors and windows.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 669 aims to terminate the extended turnaround plan for the Providence Public School District (PPSD). It specifically nullifies a decision made by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (D.E.S.E.) on August 29, 2024, which had extended the PPSD's turnaround action plan until October 15, 2027. If enacted, this bill would end that extension, thereby altering the state's current oversight of Providence public schools. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.

Maddy summarySB 943 requires landlords of "large multi-family dwellings" (buildings with more than 12 units) to obtain insurance. This insurance must cover temporary housing and storage costs for tenants displaced for at least 30 days due to events like fire, flood, or natural disaster that render the building uninhabitable. The bill outlines tenant rights, including prompt notification and suitable temporary housing, and establishes penalties for non-compliant landlords, with enforcement by the Department of Business Regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "Bed Bugs in Residential Premises Act," establishes clear responsibilities for both landlords and tenants regarding bed bug infestations. Tenants are required to promptly notify their landlord of suspected bed bugs, prompting the landlord to arrange for an inspection by a pest control agent within 96 hours. If bed bugs are confirmed, the landlord must commence treatment within five business days, covering the costs for inspection and treatment in the affected and contiguous dwelling units. Tenants must allow access for inspection and treatment and are responsible for costs associated with preparing their unit. The bill also prohibits landlords from renting out units they know or reasonably suspect to contain bed bugs.

Requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to six (6) units per location. The consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general would have authority to enforce these restrictions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 286 proposes to prohibit individuals from purchasing or taking possession of more than one firearm, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns, within any 30-day period. This restriction directly affects individuals seeking to acquire multiple firearms within a short timeframe. The bill includes several exemptions for specific groups like federally licensed firearm dealers, law enforcement officers, and participants in training courses. Violations would result in misdemeanor charges for a first offense and felony charges for subsequent offenses.

Maddy summarySB 824, titled the "Reproductive Freedom and Gender Affirming Care Health Data Privacy Act," establishes a new framework to protect sensitive health data. It applies to consumer health data related to reproductive or sexual health and gender-affirming care for Rhode Island residents. The bill defines what constitutes this protected "consumer health data" and "gender-affirming care information." It sets strict requirements for obtaining explicit, informed consent before collecting, processing, or transferring such data, disallowing consent through general terms or deceptive designs. This act aims to regulate how entities handle specific personal health information to ensure consumer privacy.

Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs shall include the name of the dispensing health care practice instead of the name of the dispenser.

Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.