Sen. David Tikoian

Maddy summarySB 298 increases penalties for various motor vehicle offenses. It raises the maximum imprisonment for "driving so as to endanger, resulting in death" from 10 to 20 years, and for "driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious bodily injury" from 5 to 10 years. For first-time convictions of "driving under the influence, resulting in death," the bill increases maximum imprisonment to 30 years and maximum fines to $20,000. Additionally, for first-time "driving under the influence, resulting in serious bodily injury," maximum imprisonment rises to 20 years, maximum fines to $10,000, and license revocation periods increase from up to 2 years to 3-5 years.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 659 proposes to revise how retirement allowances are calculated for teachers, state employees, and municipal employees. The bill introduces new formulas and percentage allowances based on an employee's years of service and the date their membership in the retirement system began. It also modifies the period of compensation used to determine a retirement allowance, shifting between three and five highest consecutive years depending on the employee's retirement eligibility and date. These changes would apply to different groups of employees based on their service dates and retirement timelines, with some provisions taking effect as late as July 1, 2025.

Gives teachers who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 days.

Extends provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement for municipal police arbitration purposes until a successor agreement is reached or an interest arbitration award is rendered.

Maddy summarySB 165 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by including them under the definition of third-party administrators. It requires PBMs to file annual reports detailing their financial arrangements with insurers and their organizational structure if affiliated. The bill specifically prohibits "spread pricing," which means PBMs cannot charge health benefit plans and covered persons more for a prescription drug than what they pay the pharmacy, less an administrative fee. This aims to ensure fair pricing practices for prescription drugs, directly affecting PBMs, health benefit plans, and individuals covered by those plans.

Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under a health plan as of January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 592 authorizes the creation of a special motor vehicle registration plate for the nonprofit organization Real Access Motivates Progress. Drivers can choose to purchase and display this specific plate, which replaces their standard registration plate. The bill establishes a $40 surcharge for the initial issuance of these plates, with $20 going to the state's general fund and $20 to the charity to support accessibility programs. Subsequent annual renewals include a $10 surcharge that goes directly to Real Access Motivates Progress, which is required to use these funds for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.

Requires the secretary of the executive office of health and human services to monitor and mandate changes to the price-setting practices of pharmacy benefit managers to prohibit the spread pricing payment model.

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 1029 congratulates Burrillville Police Chief Colonel Stephen J. Lynch on his induction into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame. This resolution honors Chief Lynch for his distinguished career and contributions to criminal justice in Rhode Island.