Sen. Lou DiPalma

Maddy summarySR 1036 is a Senate Resolution that proclaims May 8, 2025, as "Arts Day in Rhode Island." It encourages all Rhode Islanders to reflect on how arts and culture enrich their lives and recognizes their critical role in communities. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts and the Rhode Island Coalition for the Arts.

Maddy summarySB 946 makes it unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen to possess a firearm. However, the bill outlines specific exceptions where minors are permitted to possess or use firearms. These exceptions include participation in supervised activities such as lawful hunting, competitive shooting, or firearms education programs, and use at approved camps or rifle ranges when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or supervising adult. Minors may also transport an unloaded firearm in a suitable case to and from these locations when accompanied by an adult.

Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 2.89% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.

Requires cities and towns to permit attached single-family dwellings in any residential zoning districts and each such dwelling would be entitled to its own parcel thorough subdivision regardless lot size or base zone standards.

Reduces the current varying percentages for early retirement penalty for teachers, municipal and state employees to a cumulative annual reduction of 3% and monthly reduction of .25%.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 659 proposes to revise how retirement allowances are calculated for teachers, state employees, and municipal employees. The bill introduces new formulas and percentage allowances based on an employee's years of service and the date their membership in the retirement system began. It also modifies the period of compensation used to determine a retirement allowance, shifting between three and five highest consecutive years depending on the employee's retirement eligibility and date. These changes would apply to different groups of employees based on their service dates and retirement timelines, with some provisions taking effect as late as July 1, 2025.

Gives teachers who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 days.

Maddy summarySB 165 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by including them under the definition of third-party administrators. It requires PBMs to file annual reports detailing their financial arrangements with insurers and their organizational structure if affiliated. The bill specifically prohibits "spread pricing," which means PBMs cannot charge health benefit plans and covered persons more for a prescription drug than what they pay the pharmacy, less an administrative fee. This aims to ensure fair pricing practices for prescription drugs, directly affecting PBMs, health benefit plans, and individuals covered by those plans.

Amends Rhode Island’s existing healthcare services funding plan act by adding an account relating to a new psychiatry resource network to fund Rhode Island’s present PediPRN and MomsPRN.

Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under a health plan as of January 1, 2026.