Sen. Jonathon Acosta

Maddy summarySB 2246 establishes a Rhode Island tax credit to help unpaid family caregivers offset out-of-pocket costs for caring for eligible relatives. It provides a 50% credit (up to $1,000 annually) for qualifying expenses like home modifications, medical equipment, hired aides, respite care, or adult day care, directly benefiting caregivers with household incomes under $50,000 ($100,000 for couples). To qualify, the caregiver must provide unpaid support for a relative aged 65+ or with Social Security Disability, who needs assistance with at least two daily living tasks (e.g., bathing, feeding) and resides with them in Rhode Island for six+ months. The credit applies to taxable years starting after December 31, 2026, and excludes costs covered by insurance or general home maintenance.

Provides that services provided by graduate student interns who work under a supervisory protocol would be eligible to be paid from Medicaid reimbursement.

Enacts the RI individual market affordability act of 2026 to establish a program to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for low- and moderate-income consumers enrolled in individual health insurance coverage through the RI health benefits exchange.

Prohibits state and municipal officials or body from entering into and renewing any agreements that will be used to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations.

Requires health insurance plans to cover services provided by licensed certified professional midwives. Insurers would be required to report utilization and cost data annually and certain limited benefit policies would be exempt.

Requires health insurance policies to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services for childbearing families. It would also prohibit requiring supervision or duplicate payments for services and mandates annual reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists to prescribe medications that help people quit smoking, provided they have completed specific state-approved education on tobacco cessation therapies. It directly affects pharmacists and their employers by establishing new prescribing authority within their professional scope. The legislation requires pharmacists to complete education approved by the state board of pharmacy before they can use this new prescribing power. This change aims to expand access to smoking cessation treatments through pharmacies.

Creates the child-serving provider liability joint underwriting association to provide a joint underwriting association to provide liability insurance coverage for eligible child serving providers.

Maddy summarySB 2238 creates a new 3% tax rate on Rhode Island taxable income exceeding $640,000 (in 2026 dollars) for tax years beginning in 2027 and later. This additional tax applies only to high-income earners - specifically, individuals with taxable income above this threshold - and does not affect prior tax years. The bill does not change existing tax rates for lower income levels, targeting only the highest earners in the state. It is a concrete policy change that increases tax liability for a specific income bracket starting in 2027.

Maddy summarySB 2361 proposes a 1% annual tax on the worldwide wealth of Rhode Island residents, effective January 1, 2027. It directly affects individuals and entities (like corporations) domiciled in Rhode Island, taxing their total assets including cash, investments, and most intangible property (like patents or brand value), minus specific exemptions. The tax is calculated based on the fair market value of assets owned or controlled as of December 31 each year, with adjustments for deaths during the tax year. This bill, currently introduced in the Senate Finance Committee, would create a new tax category under Rhode Island’s tax code without altering existing income or property taxes.