Sen. David Tikoian

Maddy summarySB 17 requires retailers to clearly disclose all mandatory fees and rebate amounts at the point of purchase when advertising goods. It directly affects retailers who advertise products with rebates or additional fees, mandating they state the full price including rebate details in advertisements and provide the rebate amount to consumers at checkout. The bill amends deceptive trade practices law to prohibit advertising net prices (after rebates) without confirming rebate availability at purchase, shifting the burden to retailers to redeem manufacturer rebates. This takes effect January 1, 2026.

Requires the department of health to incorporate information about dementia risk factors and reduction into public education and healthcare provider education materials.

Provides protection and prevents the unethical, improper conduct and the collection of fees, by anyone advising or assisting a veteran filing a claim for disability benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs, except as authorized by federal law.

Provides extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, recycling of beverage containers, and provides general provisions for oversight of single-stage producer organizations.

Changes the name of "applied behavior assistant analyst" to "assistant applied behavior analyst" and makes several changes to provide consistency in the certification language for behavioral analysts.

Allows the two (2) gaming facilities in the state to livestream images of gaming-related activities to one or more external jurisdictions for the purpose of facilitating external game play activities in external jurisdictions where gaming is permitted.

Grants the director of the department of health the authority to approve or deny any applications for professional licensure pending before certain boards of licensure that have been unable to establish a quorum for 30 business days.

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 471 establishes licensing standards for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Rhode Island, affecting professionals who provide these services. It sets license terms (two years, renewable biennially), requires maintaining a clinical competence certificate for renewal, and creates an inactive status option for two years without fees. The bill also details specific requirements for speech-language pathology assistants, including 18 graduate credit hours, 25 observation hours, and 100 clinical hours under supervision. These changes update procedural rules for professional licensing under Rhode Island law.

Protect the personal information of judicial officers and their immediate family members who serve or have served the RI unified judicial system, as well as judicial officers who reside in RI and who serve or have served in the federal courts.