Sen. Jessica de la Cruz

Maddy summarySB 2467 prohibits health insurance companies from requiring prior approval (preauthorization) for in-network mental health and substance use disorder services, including both inpatient and outpatient care. This directly affects patients seeking these specific treatments through in-network providers, removing a common administrative barrier. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and aligns with existing requirements ensuring mental health coverage is treated equally to physical health coverage under insurance plans. It does not apply to out-of-network services or change other coverage rules like cost-sharing parity.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the schedule for the Foster-Glocester regional school district's annual financial meeting, moving the date to March 24, 2026, and establishing that future meetings will occur on the third Tuesday of March each year. The law directly affects voters in the towns of Foster and Gloucester, who will attend and vote at these regional school district financial meetings. It also clarifies that special meetings can be called by the regional school district following standard state town meeting procedures. This change takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage and signature by the Governor.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution congratulates AHEPA Chapter 106 "Sophocles" of Providence on its 100th anniversary. The bill recognizes the organization's century-long history of community service, education support, and cultural preservation within Rhode Island's Greek-American community. It authorizes the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the chapter's president, Mr. George Coclin. This is a ceremonial measure that honors the chapter's contributions without changing laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Rhode Island Business Climate Reform Act, modifies the state's Business Corporation Act to regulate how shareholders can file lawsuits on behalf of corporations. It primarily affects corporate shareholders and directors by establishing stricter rules for derivative proceedings, which are legal actions where shareholders sue to protect corporate interests. The bill requires shareholders to make a written demand to the corporation before filing suit, mandates a 90-day waiting period unless immediate harm is shown, and creates a process for independent directors or a court-appointed panel to determine if lawsuits are in the corporation's best interests. Additionally, it allows certain large corporations to set a minimum ownership threshold of up to 5% for shareholders to initiate derivative actions starting in 2026, and limits attorney fee awards in cases that result only in disclosure settlements.

Maddy summarySB 2076 allows Rhode Island cities, towns, school districts, and water/fire districts to jointly create nonprofit insurance corporations. These corporations would pool insurance risks (like property, casualty, and health coverage) for their member local governments, handle claims processing, and operate as public entities without being regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. The bill specifies that these corporations cannot be treated as standard insurance companies, their bonds won’t count as state debt, and they’ll maintain tax-exempt status for their assets and income. This directly affects local government units seeking cost-effective, shared risk management solutions for their insurance needs.

Maddy summarySB 2302 makes it a minor criminal offense (misdemeanor) to knowingly file a false complaint about misconduct involving law enforcement, public safety personnel, or hospital staff. The bill specifically targets individuals who falsely report misconduct to authorities with the intent of causing harm, such as falsely accusing an officer of wrongdoing. Penalties include up to one year in jail, a $500 fine, and mandatory compensation to the falsely accused person for damages. This bill directly affects anyone who files such false reports, aiming to prevent misuse of complaint systems. The bill was introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 23, 2026, and is pending further action.

Requires health insurance commissioner to conduct a review of health insurance benefit mandates, including an analysis of the impact on premium costs, conducted every 5 yrs and report findings and recommendations to governor, senate president and speaker.

Provides local agencies with a mechanism to opt-out of statewide transportation upon a showing of a cost-effective alternative to the current fee-for-service model.

Mandates that athletic teams that are sponsored by a public school or a private school whose teams compete against a public school, be designated as (1) "males", "men" or "boys"; (2) "females", "women" or "girls"; or (3) "coed" or "mixed".

Maddy summaryThis bill would temporarily halt several renewable energy programs in Rhode Island starting January 1, 2027. It stops new net metering agreements that allow customers to sell excess solar or wind power back to the grid, prohibits the state from signing long-term contracts over five years for purchasing solar or wind energy, and bars state funds from subsidizing heat pump purchases or installation. These changes directly affect utility customers, energy providers, and state agencies that currently participate in or administer these programs. The legislation does not prevent existing contracts from continuing but blocks new enrollments in these specific renewable energy initiatives.