Under certain circumstances, provides immunity from arrest and prosecution for prostitution, procurement of sexual conduct for a fee, loitering for prostitution and soliciting from motor vehicles for indecent purposes.
This act would repeal the exemption granted to pari mutual facilities and casinos from the smoke free workplace requirement contained in the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act.
Maddy summaryRhode Island's SB 792, the "Rhode Island Kratom Act," authorizes and regulates the sale and distribution of kratom products within the state. It prohibits selling kratom in food/beverage forms, synthetic alkaloids (like synthetic mitragynine), combustible products, or items appealing to minors, and sets strict limits on heavy metals and concentration levels (e.g., no more than 150mg mitragynine per serving). The law requires all kratom products to be sold in child-resistant packaging and include specific health warnings, dosage information, and FDA disclaimers. It establishes licensing requirements for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to ensure compliance with these safety and labeling standards. The bill became law after passing both chambers and receiving the Governor's signature on July 2, 2025.
Validates and ratifies the amendments to the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter which were approved by the electors of the city of Woonsocket on November 5, 2024.
Maddy summarySB 887 ensures continued protection against disability discrimination in Rhode Island state programs and federally funded activities, even if federal law changes. It requires the state to maintain all existing disability protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if that federal law is repealed or invalidated by a court or federal action. The law automatically reverts to the state’s prior legal standards for disability rights as of the day before any federal change takes effect. This directly affects all state agencies, schools, and organizations receiving state funding or operating under state regulation.
Maddy summarySB 829 expands Rhode Island's temporary caregiver insurance program to include bone marrow transplant donors and living organ donors as eligible beneficiaries. This means employees taking time off work to donate bone marrow or an organ can now receive wage replacement benefits under the state's temporary disability insurance program. The bill amends existing eligibility criteria to add these donors as a covered category, alongside caregivers for seriously ill family members. Benefit limits gradually increase over time, reaching up to eight weeks per year starting in 2026. The law directly affects workers who are organ or bone marrow donors needing time off for this purpose.
Increases the threshold limit for charitable organizations with an annual gross income of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more.
Requires the department of health to incorporate information about dementia risk factors and reduction into public education and healthcare provider education materials.
Provides extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, recycling of beverage containers, and provides general provisions for oversight of single-stage producer organizations.
Maddy summarySB 945 establishes Rhode Island's Anti-Bid-Rigging Act to prevent collusion in public procurement. It prohibits coordinated schemes like identical bids, rotating winners, or price fixing among bidders or government officials influencing contract awards. Violations carry felony penalties of up to three years in prison, fines up to $1 million or three times the contract value, and debarment from state contracts for up to five years. The law specifically excludes simultaneous bids as prime and subcontractor, and standard public disclosures of contract details. This act applies to all state and local government contracts governed by Rhode Island's procurement laws.
