Sen. Lou DiPalma

Maddy summaryThis bill allows voters who do not belong to a political party to vote in party primaries without automatically becoming affiliated with that party. Under the new rules, unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in either a Republican or Democratic primary, and their status will remain unaffiliated regardless of which primary they choose. The legislation also clarifies that signing nomination papers or helping candidates does not count as party affiliation for voting purposes. Election officials are required to inform voters at polling places that no additional steps are needed to keep their unaffiliated status after voting in a primary.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that mail ballot drop boxes in Rhode Island remain open for 35 days before regular state, statewide, and federal elections, and for 20 days before special elections. It requires these secure containers to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week when located outside municipal buildings, while also ensuring they are available during business hours if placed inside city or town facilities. The legislation establishes specific rules for labeling, video surveillance, accessibility for people with disabilities, and the public posting of drop box locations on official websites. Additionally, it sets procedures for when drop boxes must be locked on election day and outlines how local boards will manage the collection and transport of ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act to explicitly include mobile and manufactured homes as a form of affordable housing under specific conditions. To qualify, these homes must serve as a primary residence, be located on land owned by the occupant or a resident-owned community, have been built after June 15, 1976, and meet federal safety standards. The legislation also updates the state's strategic housing plan to address the needs of various populations, including low-income families, students, and older citizens, while defining affordable housing based on income thresholds relative to area median income. By broadening the definition of eligible housing types, the law aims to expand the inventory of affordable options available to residents without changing the core funding mechanisms for housing development.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Ryan's Law, updates regulations for healthcare professionals who prescribe controlled substances by introducing stricter penalties for overprescribing that leads to death. Under the new rules, any provider found guilty of this specific offense must face a mandatory three-year probationary period, during which any further related violations could result in license suspension or revocation. In addition to this probation, the law allows licensing boards to impose fines of up to $1,000 for a second offense and up to $5,000 for each subsequent offense, while also permitting the assessment of administrative costs against the licensee. The legislation applies to all professionals regulated by boards that oversee the prescribing of controlled substances and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Creates a protective legal shield for healthcare providers, precluding any civil/criminal action by other states/persons against healthcare providers involving persons seeking access to transgender and reproductive healthcare services provided in RI.

Allows the state to become a member of the physical therapist licensure compact adopted by twenty-five (25) states in order to facilitate the interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy service

Provides that vendors, parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, or subcontractors of the state are prohibited from bidding on requests for proposals if the person or entity has a conflict of interest as defined by the code of ethics.

Maddy summarySB 3152 allows banks to choose a specific method for calculating their state tax liability based on where their business activities occur. This option lets banks allocate their income using a formula that considers receipts, property, and payroll rather than being taxed on their total income. The law also adjusts how banks handle expenses shared with related companies, requiring them to add back certain costs unless they prove the transactions were made at fair market value for legitimate business reasons. These changes take effect for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2025, and apply to both domestic and foreign financial institutions operating within the state.

Requires municipalities managing their own pension system to submit a statutorily required actuarial experience study to the advisory council to locally administered pension plans, rather than to a since-dissolved study commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local municipalities to let taxpayers choose to receive tax notices via email or other digital methods instead of traditional mail. It creates a program where residents can waive their right to physical mail notifications and opt for electronic delivery of tax information. The law clarifies that receiving notice by any method, including digital, is sufficient and that failing to receive a notice does not excuse the payment of taxes. This change applies to cities and towns that currently send tax bills through the postal service.