Sen. David Tikoian

Maddy summarySB 553 amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act. This bill allows tenants with disabilities to request to keep emotional support animals in their housing accommodations. The amendment aims to clarify protections against discrimination for these tenants regarding housing for their support animals.

Amends the definition of “dual enrollment” to encompass all Rhode Island public higher education institutions and amends all statutory references regarding the same.

Provides that a hearing required before a judge or magistrate may adjudge a motorist in contempt for failure to comply with the court's orders regarding a conditional hardship license, and defines penalties for violation of a hardship/interlock order.

Maddy summarySB 503, "AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING," seeks to amend existing definitions related to low and moderate-income housing. The bill modifies criteria for what qualifies as "low- or moderate-income housing" and how units are counted towards a municipality's affordable housing inventory. It specifies that certain mobile or manufactured homes can count as one-half of a unit, and rental properties secured with federal assistance vouchers can count as one whole unit, provided specific conditions are met. This legislation aims to refine the framework for establishing and tracking affordable housing in cities and towns.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's sales and use tax laws. It creates a new exemption for the trade-in value of certain pickup trucks. Specifically, the trade-in value of a pickup truck under 6,000 pounds gross weight, used exclusively for personal purposes, would be exempt from sales tax. This means individuals trading in such vehicles would pay sales tax only on the cash difference, rather than the full price of the new vehicle.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 31 (SB 31) proposes to amend current sales and use tax laws by creating a specific exemption. The bill exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing 14,000 pounds or less from sales and use tax. This means that when an individual or business trades in an eligible pickup truck, the value of that trade-in will not be included in the taxable amount for their new vehicle purchase. This change would directly affect consumers trading in these specific types of pickup trucks, potentially lowering the total sales tax paid on their new vehicle.

Exempts the trade-in value of pickup trucks under eight thousand one hundred pounds (8,100 lbs.) gross weight, used exclusively for personal use, from sales tax.

Exempts from sales tax the trade-in values of motorcycles as well the proceeds received as a result of an unrecovered stolen or total loss of a motorcycle.

Amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to set the regionalization bonus at 2% of the state's share of foundation education aid for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, and for each year thereafter.

Maddy summarySR 49 is a joint resolution proposing to allocate $250,000 from the state treasury for the fiscal year 2025-2026. This funding would be directed to the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of RI (SUMHLC). The resolution aims to support SUMHLC's mission of promoting a coordinated system of community-based mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services. This appropriation is intended to help address the high rates of addiction and the need for readily available services in Rhode Island.