Establishes an agricultural restricted receipt account within the department of environmental management. An advisory committee would be established to determine suggested uses of the funds in said account.
Permits continuation of instructor-led virtual instruction for drivers’ education for two-year period. Board of education required to provide report comparing test scores of virtual versus in-person instruction to house speaker and senate president.
Maddy summarySB 645, the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024, prohibits the sale of most consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting in 2027, with additional bans on artificial turf and outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions taking effect in 2029. The bill exempts products containing PFAS that are authorized by the FDA for food contact, such as certain cookware, and requires clear labeling for products containing PFAS. It also exempts unavoidable trace amounts of PFAS in cosmetics due to manufacturing processes. This law applies to manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of affected products within the state.
Extends the reporting and expiration dates of the special legislative commission to study the governance structure of Rhode Island’s public education system, from March 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026, and said commission expires on June 1, 2026.
Includes the COVID-19 immunization under the consent and reporting provisions required for pharmacy administered immunizations to individuals between nine (9) and eighteen (18) years of age.
Establishes the Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program for the importation of wholesale prescription drugs from Canada, to provide savings to Rhode Island consumers.
Requires a seventy-five percent (75%) supermajority vote by the board of directors to establish a quorum and to approve any action taken by the commerce corporation.
Requires that any covered entity that develops/provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing/developing such online service, product, or feature.
Maddy summarySB 47 adjusts the state motor fuel tax rate every two years to account for inflation, using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) from the previous two years instead of the previous year. It requires the tax administrator to calculate the adjustment based on CPI-U data from September 30 of the prior year compared to data from two years earlier, rounding to the nearest cent. This change affects fuel distributors who pay the tax, as it modifies how their tax payments are adjusted annually. The bill does not change the base tax rate of $0.32 per gallon but updates the inflation calculation method to a two-year rolling average. The adjustment would take effect upon passage, with the first change applying in 2025.
Maddy summarySB 543 prohibits the sale of flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system products (vape products with non-tobacco/mint flavors) to consumers in Rhode Island, except at designated vape shops. It defines a "vape shop" as a business exclusively selling nicotine products to adults 21+ and exempts these shops from the flavor ban. The bill also clarifies that cannabis facilities (compassion centers) are exempt from the prohibition, except for tobacco/nicotine products. This legislation is pending Senate Finance Committee action after being referred for study.
