Sen. Bob Britto

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the courage and compassion of eleven individuals who provided aid and protection during a shooting at Lynch Arena in Pawtucket on February 16, 2026. The bill specifically recognizes these Good Samaritans for their actions in disarming the shooter, rendering medical assistance, protecting victims, and offering comfort during the crisis. It directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to each named individual as a formal expression of gratitude from the Rhode Island Senate.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution congratulates the Blackstone Valley Schools Boys Co-Op ice hockey team for winning the 2026 Rhode Island Division II State Championship. The bill recognizes the team's achievement after they returned to competition following a tragic shooting at Lynch Arena that killed three people just a month earlier. It highlights specific players and coaches who contributed to the team's success, including Colin Dorgan, who scored a game-tying goal in the championship match. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to the team's head coach and all roster members.

Maddy summarySB 2640 would establish a new type of tax-advantaged savings account designed for unexpected major expenses like natural disasters or serious medical emergencies. The bill creates a legal framework for these "catastrophe savings accounts," allowing taxpayers to contribute funds under specific state tax rules. It would directly affect individuals who qualify to open such accounts for emergency expenses. The bill was introduced to the Senate Commerce committee on February 27, 2026, and remains in the early stages of consideration.

Maddy summarySB 2204 clarifies definitions and prohibits deceptive practices specifically in insurance claim handling, directly affecting policyholders, insureds, and businesses making insurance claims. It defines key terms like "claimant," "insurance claim handling services," and "unfair or deceptive acts," explicitly banning tactics such as misrepresenting repairs, hiding rebate terms, or falsely advertising claim resolutions. The bill requires insurers and claim handlers to provide transparent information about claim processes and pricing, such as separately stating labor costs or disclosing repair defects. These changes aim to increase accountability in how insurers process claims, reducing misleading practices that impact consumers during the claims experience.

Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by expanding definitions of unfair claims settlement practices and clarifies an insured’s right to pursue bad-faith remedies.

Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by improving the fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings, and preventing insurers from delaying or obstructing the dispute resolution process.

Establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority, funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies, which said sales taxes would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies ownership and management authority for roads within the Quonset Business Park by designating them as public roads under the control of the Quonset Development Corporation. It establishes that the Quonset Development Corporation will have sole responsibility for maintaining, managing, and regulating traffic on these roads, including the authority to install traffic control devices and enforce traffic rules. The legislation updates state highway laws to remove these roads from the standard state planning classification system and ensures that traffic regulations apply to them only as directed by the Quonset Development Corporation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Quonset Development Corporation to take ownership, maintain, and control all streetlights within the Quonset Business Park. It addresses current uncertainty about who owns these lights, which has made it difficult to keep them properly maintained and safe for drivers and pedestrians. The legislation gives the corporation the same rights as municipalities to purchase lighting equipment from electric companies or local governments, provided they pay the required compensation. Additionally, the bill expands the corporation's general powers to manage and operate property at the business park.

Requires the state building commissioner to implement electronic permitting for any category of state or local permit authorized under state law to significantly impact the expediency of construction and development.