Under certain circumstances, provides immunity from arrest and prosecution for prostitution, procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, loitering for prostitution and soliciting from motor vehicles for indecent purposes.
Defines Class 5 property to include the commercial portion of mixed use properties and fix the tax rate for Class 3 property at thirty-eight dollars and 33 cents ($38.33) per one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Requires employer, at the start of employment, furnish to their employees a written notice containing employment information relative to wages, rates of pay, allowances, benefits, deductions from pay, and identifying information relative to the employer.
Grants Rhode Island's family court jurisdiction to make findings for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions, including determinations about dependency, parental reunification, and the child’s best interest, for minors under twenty-one (21) years.
Maddy summarySB 487 prohibits all licensed healthcare facilities (such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes) from asking patients about their legal immigration status or requiring proof of U.S. residency. This applies to every patient regardless of their immigration status, ensuring that facilities cannot deny care or ask for such information during treatment. The bill amends existing licensing rules to add a clear standard (section 19) explicitly banning these questions, with no exceptions for facility staff or billing processes. It takes effect immediately upon the governor’s signature, which occurred on July 1, 2025. This policy change directly protects patients’ privacy and access to care without altering other healthcare services or billing requirements.
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles.
Maddy summarySB 483 (Pharmacy Refill Bill) allows pharmacists to dispense a one-time refill of essential medications for up to 100 days under specific conditions. It directly affects patients who cannot reach their prescriber for a refill and pharmacists managing medication continuity. The bill permits refills only for non-controlled substances (excluding Schedule II-V drugs) needed for life-sustaining or chronic conditions, where stopping treatment could cause health risks, and requires pharmacists to notify the prescriber within seven business days. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to prevent treatment interruptions without prescriber authorization.
Repeals the required HIV testing for an individual convicted under chapter 34.1 of title 11 and allows the option for HIV testing for any person convicted under this chapter.
Maddy summarySR 1156 creates a seven-member commission to study returning Central Falls public schools to local control. The commission, including the Mayor of Central Falls, education officials, a teachers' union representative, and a financial expert, must develop a financial plan for the city's local funding share and a detailed transition plan for operational and fiscal responsibility. It requires a final report by March 3, 2026, with implementation scheduled for July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects Central Falls residents and its public school system by establishing a structured process to evaluate local governance of schools. This procedural resolution does not change current governance but sets a timeline for a study on potential return.
Creates a special license plate for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc. that would support the Blackstone River Valley Environmental Clean-up and Education Fund.
