Sen. Walter Felag

Maddy summarySB 568 requires all school buses in the state to be equipped with video monitoring systems starting in 2027 for new buses and 2032 for all buses. These systems must capture live video, license plates, time, date, and location of traffic violations involving school buses. The law mandates that the systems produce recorded evidence meeting specific standards for use in issuing traffic citations. Violations are processed through traffic tribunals with fines allocated 75% to the vendor, 40% to the state general fund, and 30% to the local municipality. This directly affects school bus operators, municipalities, and vehicle owners who violate school bus stop laws.

Increases the taxable wage base for TDI claims from $38,000 to $100,000 or the annual earnings needed by an individual to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit amount and the maximum duration under chapters 39 through 41 of this title.

Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals".

Standardizes successor appointment language for various boards and adds language providing that a quorum be a majority of appointed members and the language applies across several healthcare professional boards that currently lack this language.

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.

Updates and expands the current law to include menopause and menopause related conditions in the law on fair employment practices pertaining to pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions.

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.

Makes technical amendments to the RI life science hub regarding the terms of the directors, advisory committees, powers, disposition of hub assets upon termination, and tax status as a governmental unit which is a separate legal entity from the state.

Adds “space force” to the branches of the military included in various sections of general law regarding the veterans home, veterans cemetery and the power of armed forces officers to take acknowledgements.

Requires certified athletic trainers to be trained in the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors (epi-pens) and would require such professionals to be equipped with the medication while performing professional activities.