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.
Maddy summarySB 729 expands Rhode Island's criminal threats law to specifically protect election officials and workers. It makes threats against election officials (including poll workers, wardens, moderators, and board members) a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, rather than being covered under the general public official provisions. The bill directly affects election workers who perform duties at polling places during elections. Key provisions define "election official" broadly to include all staff at polling locations and clarify that threats targeting them for their role are now explicitly prohibited. This law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 26, 2025.
Extends the sunset provision allowing retired teachers to substitute teach in excess of 90 days. The sunset provision is extended from June 20, 2025 until July 1, 2026.
Provides that original power wheelchair equipment manufacturers would be required to provide to independent service providers repair information and tools to maintain and repair original power wheelchair equipment.
Permits the division of unclaimed property within the office of the general treasurer to accept miscellaneous intangible property belonging to Rhode Island residents.
Maddy summarySB 938 authorizes anyone to take green crabs (an invasive species) and creates a $10 annual commercial license for Rhode Island residents who wish to harvest them commercially. The bill establishes a $10 fee per season for commercial licenses and allows the state director to create additional regulations for this license. It directly affects Rhode Island residents seeking to commercially harvest green crabs as part of invasive species management. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 125 sets the state's minimum wage at $16 per hour starting January 1, 2026, and increases it to $17 per hour starting January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all covered employers and hourly workers in the state who are subject to minimum wage laws. The legislation amends the existing minimum wage schedule by adding these specific future rates, building on previous annual increases. The change takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as confirmed by the bill's recent passage and signing on June 24, 2025.
Requires associations to provide unit owners within thirty (30) days notice of any increase in the deductible application to the association’s policy.
Updates and expands the current law to include menopause and menopause related conditions in the law on fair employment practices pertaining to pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions.
Maddy summarySB 614 is a technical correction bill that updates reporting requirements for alcohol beverage taxes and clarifies the allocation of motor fuel tax proceeds. It requires Class A alcohol licensees to submit annual sales and tax reports by February 1st, with the tax administrator compiling county-level data for legislative committees by May 1st. The bill also specifies exact cents-per-gallon allocations from motor fuel taxes for public transit (starting 2004), the Elderly/Disabled Transportation Program (starting 2010), and general revenue, while directing $0.035 per gallon to the Sakonnet River Bridge maintenance fund starting in 2015. It does not create new taxes or change existing rates, but refines administrative processes and funding distribution.
