Sen. Jessica de la Cruz

Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.

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, 2026, and for each year thereafter.

Maddy summarySB 2545 adds the positions of administrator of community confinement and home confinement coordinator to the state retirement system. This change means employees in these correctional roles will now qualify for retirement benefits previously available only to other state correctional staff. The bill amends existing retirement law to explicitly include these two job titles in the eligibility list. The change takes effect upon the bill's passage and does not alter retirement rules for other positions.

Allows any peace officer working in a Rhode Island school as a full or part-time resource officer to work in excess of the 75 working days in a calendar year and not have an interruption in their benefits.

Maddy summarySB 2167 increases the maximum number of days retired municipal employees in towns and cities can work in a calendar year without losing pension benefits, raising the limit to 90 days. This directly affects current retirees employed by local governments who wish to return to part-time work. The key provision replaces the previous work limit with a new 90-day annual cap for maintaining full pension payments. The bill applies specifically to municipal retirement systems covering employees of incorporated towns and cities.

Maddy summarySB 2319 requires all public meetings involving collective bargaining agreements for school teachers to be open to the public. This overrides the standard exception allowing closed meetings for collective bargaining discussions, as specified in Section 1(e) of the bill. The law directly affects public school districts, school committees, and teachers' unions during contract negotiations. It takes effect immediately upon passage, ensuring transparency in school employment negotiations.

Prohibits individual who operates a recreational vehicle in a reckless or negligent manner which hinders the movement of other vehicles with a group of 2 more vehicles be guilty of felony, punishable by imprisonment up to 2.5 years and fine up to $2,000.

Prohibits individuals from conveying items to or from the training school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families.

Adds a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle and that the owner or occupant of the vehicle acted in self-defense.

Maddy summarySB 2307 creates a legal presumption that property owners, tenants, or occupants acted in justified self-defense if a person dies or is injured while committing a violent crime (like burglary or assault) on their property. It applies when the property owner reasonably believed the intruder posed an imminent threat of serious harm or death to themselves or others lawfully present. The law presumes self-defense without requiring the owner to retreat, and this presumption can be challenged ("rebutted") in court. It directly affects property owners facing criminal or civil cases involving violent offenders injured or killed during crimes committed on their premises. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.