Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.
Maddy summarySB 2235 requires the state auditor general to conduct annual performance audits of all state agencies starting January 1, 2027. These audits will examine how effectively and efficiently agencies operate, whether they comply with laws, and if public funds are properly spent. The auditor general must report findings to the legislature and executive branch, including any agency failing to meet audit standards. This directly affects all state agencies, from departments to boards, by mandating regular reviews of their operations and financial management. The bill aims to improve accountability in government spending without changing existing agency responsibilities.
Maddy summarySB 2393 requires individuals making public records requests to provide their name and a valid mailing or email address to verify identity and enable communication. This change prohibits anonymous requests and ensures public bodies can properly respond to inquiries. The bill does not alter which records are public or impose new restrictions on record access, only establishing a minimum identification requirement for requesters.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows the Cumberland Lodge #14 of the Fraternal Order of Police to regain its legal charter after it failed to file required annual reports for many years. To restore its status, the organization must submit all overdue reports by December 31, 2026, and pay the associated filing fees along with a penalty amount determined by the Attorney General. Once these conditions are met, the group will be treated as if the charter forfeiture never occurred, regaining all its rights and privileges. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates May 2026 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month in Rhode Island to highlight the challenges and impacts of brain tumors. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to leaders of four major brain tumor organizations, including the American Brain Tumor Association and the Rhode Island Brain & Spine Tumor Foundation. By doing so, the state aims to increase public understanding of the disease and support ongoing research efforts.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act by removing the cap that limits reductions to local per-pupil funding for charter schools at 14% starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects charter public schools, the William M. Davies Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, as well as the school districts that host their students. Under the current law, districts can reduce funding by up to 14% to offset costs like non-public textbooks and retiree health benefits, but this measure would allow for reductions exceeding that percentage once the fiscal year 2026 limit expires. The legislation also outlines how enrollment changes and state share calculations are handled and specifies that districts failing to make required payments could face withholding of state aid.
Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.
Provides that in local education agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines, then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.
Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to remove a funding requirement from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It establishes specific funding categories for special education costs, career and technical education programs, pre-kindergarten access, and transportation expenses for students attending out-of-district non-public schools or within regional school districts. The legislation also creates stabilization funds for Central Falls, Davies, and the Met Center to address local capacity concerns and high school operating costs, while providing temporary bonuses to regionalized school districts. Additionally, it defines and provides state support for school resource officers who complete specialized training in school policing.
