Sen. Brian Thompson

Maddy summaryThis bill approves amendments to Rhode Island's Medicaid program under a federal waiver, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and healthcare providers. It limits nursing facility and hospital rate increases to 2.3% (aligned with state tax revenue growth) for 2025-2026, eliminates annual home care rate increases, and removes hospital upper payment limits. The bill also establishes an interprofessional consultation program starting October 2025 and authorizes $396 million for hospital payments through Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. These changes require state plan amendments but must not increase overall program spending beyond the 2024-2025 budget. The resolution takes effect July 1, 2025.

Clarifies the definitions of unfair claims practices pertaining to insurers with regard to appraisals and total losses. It also corrects a citation regarding salvage and reconstructed titles.

Maddy summarySB 1014 changes how interest is calculated in most civil court cases by replacing a fixed 12% rate with a variable rate tied to the current yield of 52-week U.S. Treasury bills. This applies to civil judgments for pecuniary damages (e.g., contract disputes, property claims) filed after the bill’s effective date, directly affecting plaintiffs and defendants in these cases. Medical malpractice cases involving healthcare providers are specifically excluded from this change, retaining the existing 12% interest rate with a different calculation start date. The bill aims to align civil interest rates with current federal market conditions rather than using a static percentage.

Prohibits the holding of multiple drivers licenses or identification cards and would change the term "re-constructed salvage" to "rebuilt salvage" for purposes of the Rhode Island salvage law.

Allows the applicant for a land development project to utilize the administrative subdivision process established under 45-23-37 to request approval of a proposed subdivision of an oversized lot.

Caps delinquent tax interest rate at 12%. Prohibits audits beyond 3 years from date of tax filing, 7 years for fraudulent filings, and in no event beyond 10 years from date of filing or required filing date, whichever is later.

Maddy summarySB 341 proposes to provide a full property tax exemption for real property owned by a veteran and used as their primary residence. Currently, veterans receive various partial property tax exemptions, with amounts differing based on their service and the specific municipality. This bill would replace those existing partial exemptions with a complete property tax exemption for their primary home, directly affecting eligible veteran homeowners.

Mandates additional state education funding for the mental and behavioral health of students equal to 2% of the district’s total expenditures, and require those funds be used to hire staff such as school social workers, and behavioral specialists.

Maddy summarySB 448, known as "The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act," amends existing law to outline various categorical programs eligible for direct state funding. The bill provides state funds for excess costs associated with special education students and student transportation for both out-of-district non-public schools and within regional school districts. It also allocates funding for career and technical education, pre-kindergarten programs, and

Maddy summarySB 621 amends the state's Mental Health Law to extend immunity from liability to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This bill grants APRNs the same legal protections as physicians and surgeons when participating in mental health proceedings. Specifically, APRNs would not be held liable in court for their involvement, except in instances of actual fraud or gross, willful, or wanton negligence. This change directly affects APRNs by providing them with expanded legal immunity within the mental healthcare system.