Restricts audits of pharmacists conducted by insurers and their intermediaries, limiting audits to one per year unless fraud or misrepresentation is reasonably suspected. The RI attorney general has the authority to impose sanctions for violations.
Maddy summarySB 721 repeals the law that established the Capital Center Commission, a special development district commission for downtown Providence, Rhode Island. This bill removes the legal framework that allowed the commission to manage development, levy special assessments on property owners, and oversee projects like parking, streetscapes, and public services in the downtown area. The repeal directly affects the commission itself, ending its authority to operate under the existing statute. The bill does not create new policy but formally dissolves the commission's governing structure.
Maddy summarySB 722 requires construction sites to maintain an open access point for workers during all work hours, prohibiting locked gates, fences, or barriers that obstruct entry or exit. It directly affects construction site owners, operators, and managers on both public and private property. Violations result in a written warning for the first offense, followed by a $1,000 daily fine and immediate work stoppage for subsequent violations. The law aims to ensure workers can freely enter and exit sites while work is ongoing, with no exceptions during active construction. It took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature on June 24, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 347 creates a limited license for foreign-trained physicians in Rhode Island who meet specific criteria. It allows doctors who graduated from medical schools outside the U.S. and completed accredited residency training abroad to practice under supervision, provided they hold ECFMG certification, have at least three years of unrestricted practice in another country, and complete a board-approved training program. This license requires ongoing evaluation through a participating healthcare facility and excludes physicians who completed U.S. or Canadian residency training. The bill directly affects internationally-trained doctors seeking to practice in Rhode Island while ensuring patient safety through structured oversight.
Maddy summarySB 191 exempts the real and tangible personal property of PROJECT Weber/RENEW, a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation, from state property taxation. The bill amends Rhode Island's tax code to add this specific organization to the list of entities eligible for property tax exemptions under Section 44-3-3. This change directly affects PROJECT Weber/RENEW by removing property tax obligations on its qualifying assets, without altering broader tax policies or creating new exemption categories. The exemption applies to all property owned by the nonprofit, as specified in the amended statute.
Requires health insurance plans to cover services provided by licensed certified professional midwives. Insurers must report utilization and cost data annually. Certain limited benefit policies are exempt.
Maddy summaryThis bill (SR 421) authorizes $1,000,000 in state funding for the Rhode Island Food Bank to address food insecurity. It directly affects the Food Bank’s ability to support households facing hunger, as nearly 38% of Rhode Island households experience food insecurity. The key provision is a one-time appropriation from the state treasury, requiring the controller to pay the funds upon verified requests. This provides immediate financial support for food distribution services without altering existing eligibility rules or creating new programs.
Requires submission of a domestic violence/sexual assault reporting form when the domestic violence response or investigation involves a verbal argument or dispute.
Maddy summarySB 307 amends Rhode Island's 2015 Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act to require state and municipal police departments to collect standardized data on traffic stops and searches, including officer-perceived race/ethnicity of drivers. The bill mandates that this data - covering stop reasons, searches, outcomes, and demographics - be submitted monthly to the Department of Transportation's Highway Safety office for annual analysis by an external agency. The resulting public reports must include quarterly summaries and annual statistical analyses to identify potential racial disparities in traffic enforcement. The bill was defeated in committee on June 20, 2025, after multiple committee hearings.
Provides an 8% tax rate for those properties that are encumbered by a deed restriction for low-income housing set at 80% or 60% of adjusted median income established by HUD.
