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.
Requires every college in RI to train staff members in the student residential department, including RAs, to administer of opioid antagonists with protection from liability and prosecution.
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.
Maddy summarySB 568 requires all school buses in the state to be equipped with video monitoring systems starting in 2027 for new buses and 2032 for all buses. These systems must capture live video, license plates, time, date, and location of traffic violations involving school buses. The law mandates that the systems produce recorded evidence meeting specific standards for use in issuing traffic citations. Violations are processed through traffic tribunals with fines allocated 75% to the vendor, 40% to the state general fund, and 30% to the local municipality. This directly affects school bus operators, municipalities, and vehicle owners who violate school bus stop laws.
Authorizes the city of Woonsocket to levy a tax for the 2026 fiscal year at a rate of five and one-half percent (5.5%) in excess of the amount levied and certified by the city for the prior year.
Prohibits casualty insurers from assessing any premium surcharge or penalty against an insured solely for inquiring about the terms of the insured's policy.
Maddy summarySB 266 temporarily removes the requirement for clinical social workers to pass a standardized exam to obtain a license, effective immediately until August 15, 2025. This directly affects new applicants seeking clinical social worker licensure in Rhode Island. The bill also directs the licensing board to develop language accommodations and alternative qualification pathways to improve access for diverse communities. After August 15, 2025, the previous exam requirement will resume unless further action is taken.
Empowers the division of motor vehicles to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association.
Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals".
Standardizes successor appointment language for various boards and adds language providing that a quorum be a majority of appointed members and the language applies across several healthcare professional boards that currently lack this language.
