Sen. David Tikoian

Maddy summarySB 187 increases Rhode Island's estate tax exemption to $4 million for estates of people who die on or after January 1, 2026. This means most estates valued below $4 million will no longer owe state estate tax under this provision. The bill sets a new threshold that replaces previous lower exemptions (like $850,000 for 2010-2015 deaths) and includes future annual adjustments for inflation starting in 2027. It directly affects residents and nonresidents with estates exceeding $4 million at death after 2025.

Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) gross weight, used exclusively for personal use, from sales tax.

Maddy summarySB 1073 prohibits inmates in Rhode Island Department of Corrections custody from using force or weapons to resist lawful requests or directives from correctional officers. This law directly affects individuals already incarcerated in state facilities, specifically targeting resistance during routine facility operations. Violating this provision could result in fines up to $500, up to one year in jail, or both. The bill amends existing law to clarify that such resistance by incarcerated people is unlawful, separate from rules governing arrests by police officers. It has not yet become law, as it was referred to committee for further study.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $90,000,000 to the Rhode Island executive office of health and human services to be invested in increasing reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers.

Exempts individual retirement accounts as a countable resource for public assistance. This act also prohibits the state as a creditor against an ABLE account in the event of death of a beneficiary.

Requires EOHHS to establish a 1-year pilot program for nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, groceries and produce for peoples with diet-related diseases or food insecurity, and other interventions where there is a clinical need.

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.

Prohibits the state from seeking reimbursement for expenditures made on behalf of disabled Rhode Islanders from an ABLE account after death of the designated beneficiary.

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.