Sen. Melissa Murray

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the ability of people with Medicare to buy supplemental insurance without being rejected due to their health history. It directly affects individuals who enroll in these plans outside their initial enrollment period, including those under 65 with disabilities or kidney disease. The key change requires insurers to offer coverage without medical underwriting during specific times, such as the annual enrollment period, as long as there has been no significant gap in prior coverage. Additionally, the law mandates that these policies cannot deny benefits based on preexisting conditions that occurred within six months of the policy start date.

Establishes a statewide mobile response and stabilization services program to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth in their natural environments.

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to apply for certificate of authority from the office of health insurance commissioner to operate such a business in this state and empowers the commissioner to oversee pharmacy benefit managers and penalize violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens oversight of pharmacy benefits managers in Rhode Island by requiring them to register with the state and submit detailed annual reports about their financial relationships with insurers. It prohibits these managers from forcing pharmacies to substitute generic drugs without prescriber approval and bans them from stopping pharmacists from sharing pricing information with patients. The legislation also prevents pharmacy benefits managers from charging copayments that exceed what pharmacies are paid and mandates a clear appeals process for disputes over drug pricing. These changes directly affect pharmacy benefits managers, insurers, pharmacies, and patients who use prescription drug coverage in the state.

Expands the existing law regarding collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians to allow other healthcare providers to enter into such agreements and removes the definition of “collaborative practice committee.”

Changes the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist.

Maddy summarySB 2605 creates a new Rhode Island civil cause of action, allowing individuals to sue federal officials or entities acting "under color of federal law" for violating constitutional rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. It directly affects Rhode Island residents harmed by federal actions that deprive them of constitutional rights, such as due process or equal protection. Key provisions remove state immunity defenses (including sovereign immunity) and require courts to award attorney fees to successful plaintiffs, while setting a three-year statute of limitations for filing claims. The bill does not impose new federal duties but enables state courts to address federal constitutional violations through civil lawsuits. It is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee after introduction on February 13, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2570 requires healthcare providers and facilities to inform patients when artificial intelligence (AI) is used to document in-person or telehealth visits. It applies to all licensed healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and dentists) and facilities that use AI for this specific purpose - recording visit details, not for making medical decisions. The law mandates clear notification to patients before or during their visit, defining AI broadly to include technologies like language models and machine learning systems. This notification requirement takes effect immediately upon the bill's passage.

Protects people attending Rhode Island court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant, ensures court access, sets enforcement rules, and provides remedies for violations.

Maddy summarySB 2047 clarifies the legal definitions of criminal offenses by adjusting imprisonment thresholds. It redefines a felony as any offense punishable by more than 364 days in jail (previously one year), a misdemeanor as 6 months to 364 days (previously up to one year), and specifies petty misdemeanors and violations with updated fine limits. This bill directly affects all criminal cases classified under these categories in the state's legal system, ensuring consistent application of sentencing terms. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.