Sen. Lou DiPalma

Maddy summarySB 359, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025, prohibits the sale, manufacture, and purchase of specific firearms defined as "prohibited" under the bill. It directly affects residents and businesses in Rhode Island who handle or own firearms meeting the defined criteria, such as semi-automatic rifles with folding stocks, pistol grips, or magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Key provisions ban weapons with features like detachable magazines, grenade launchers, or threaded barrels, while allowing limited exceptions for current owners selling to dealers or law enforcement. The ban takes effect July 1, 2026, with violations punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Extends the sunset provision allowing retired teachers to substitute teach in excess of 90 days. The sunset provision is extended from June 20, 2025 until July 1, 2026.

Provides that original power wheelchair equipment manufacturers would be required to provide to independent service providers repair information and tools to maintain and repair original power wheelchair equipment.

Permits the division of unclaimed property within the office of the general treasurer to accept miscellaneous intangible property belonging to Rhode Island residents.

Authorizes the Rhode Island infrastructure bank to establish a fund to provide financial assistance to local government units for resiliency and stormwater abatement projects.

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.

Strikes the words "which is naturally occurring" with regard to any promulgated rules and regulations of the department of environmental management (DEM) relating to the remediation of arsenic.

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.

Requires that any state agency, state institution of higher education, and quasi-public agency that engages in printing more than 50 copies of a contract, publication, brochure, notice, or promotional material to use a state-owned or operated print shop.