Sen. Linda Ujifusa

Maddy summarySB 2753, the Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026, establishes a state funding program to address staffing needs at Rhode Island Veterans Homes. The bill directly affects these state-operated facilities by providing dedicated financial support to maintain adequate staffing levels. Key provisions require the state to allocate specific funds for hiring and retaining personnel at the veterans homes. This act aims to improve operational stability and care quality at these facilities through targeted state financial assistance.

Maddy summarySB 2563 mandates an independent study by Rhode Island's auditor general to evaluate whether consolidating Medicaid prescription drug management would save costs and improve transparency. The study must compare four models used by other states, including single statewide drug lists (like Connecticut) or direct state contracting (like Kentucky), and assess impacts on state spending, pharmacy rebates, and beneficiary access. It requires full data access from pharmacy benefit managers and related entities - bypassing contractual confidentiality - to ensure the analysis uses complete information on drug expenditures and rebates. This bill directly affects Rhode Island's Medicaid program, which covers children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, by setting the stage for potential future changes to drug management.

Strengthens enforcement of the state's pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.

Allows a party to condition a transaction by electronic means on their stated desire to obtain and receive a written copy of the document in English or Spanish before electronic execution of the agreement or performance is required of the party.

Maddy summarySB 2448 creates a dedicated performance audit division within Rhode Island's Office of the Auditor General (OAG). This division will evaluate how efficiently and effectively state agencies and contractors using public funds operate, focusing on program outcomes rather than financial transactions. The bill requires the OAG to hire at least five full-time staff for this work, develop annual audit plans prioritizing high-impact areas like Medicaid and IT systems, and publish public reports starting in 2027. State agencies must then submit corrective action plans within 60 days of receiving audit findings, with the OAG monitoring compliance and reporting to lawmakers.

Maddy summarySB 2024, the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026, creates a fund to recover costs for climate adaptation projects from fossil fuel companies responsible for significant emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and caused over 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 2000-2025, using a scientific method to calculate their proportional share. The law requires these companies to pay for "climate change response work" like coastal protection, flood infrastructure, heat mitigation, and ecosystem restoration projects already funded by taxpayers. The Department of Environmental Management will manage the fund and identify eligible projects, shifting costs from public budgets to polluters under a "polluter pays" principle.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates May 2026 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Rhode Island. The bill aims to honor the historical contributions and cultural diversity of these communities within the state by encouraging residents to participate in educational programs and activities. Additionally, it directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to individuals who have promoted AANHPI culture and history during a specific ceremony on May 19, 2026.

Amends State funding calculations for special education, revising extraordinary cost calculations for FY 2028-2029, and providing additional funds for excess costs when special education students move into a district after the budget is approved.

Amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to set the regionalization bonus at 2% of the state's share of foundation education aid for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026, and for each year thereafter.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the Rhode Island Medical Society for organizing the 2026 State House Advocacy Day event. It formally recognizes the physicians who participated in the gathering for their work in patient care and healthcare policy advocacy. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the medical society as an official acknowledgment of their contributions.