Sen. Ryan Pearson

Maddy summarySB 514 requires the state retirement board to post all archived and future video or audio recordings of its meetings online on the employees' retirement system website. This applies to all retirement board meetings and any subsidiary investment boards. The law, effective January 1, 2026, mandates this transparency for all recordings, both past and future. It does not change retirement benefits or funding but makes board deliberations more publicly accessible.

Provides that statements by a health care provider regarding the unanticipated outcome of a patient's medical care and treatment shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission.

Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.

Requires all certified independent or district charter schools upon application for a renewal of said charter or an application for a new charter school to provide a union neutrality clause in the charter.

Allows animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and would increase penalties for malicious injury to or killing of animals.

Maddy summarySB 988 adds Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and Washington's Birthday to the list of recognized holidays under state labor law for purposes of work regulations on holidays and Sundays. This means employers must follow the same rules for these two holidays as they do for other designated holidays, such as requiring overtime pay or time off for eligible employees. The bill specifically amends the definition of "Holidays" in the labor code to include these days, affecting all employers covered by the state's work-on-holidays and Sundays provisions. It does not change existing exemptions for certain industries or employees. The bill passed the Senate and takes effect upon passage.

Establishes Children's Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide finance assistance to families for medical expenses not covered by state or federal programs or insurance contract.

Increases the net taxable estate exemption to $3,600,000 on January 1, 2026 and increases the exemption by $1,000,000 on January 1, 2027, and every year thereafter.

Maddy summarySB 433 requires the state auditor general to conduct annual audits of all state agencies to evaluate how effectively and efficiently they operate, including checking compliance with laws on equal employment and minority business requirements. These audits will review agency programs, financial practices, and spending of public funds, with findings reported to the legislature. Agencies that fail to meet audit standards must be reported to the governor and top legislative leaders by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects all state agencies, including those managing education, public services, and other government operations.

Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.