Sen. Melissa Murray

Maddy summarySB 263 requires most health insurance plans in the state to cover mobile mental health crisis response and stabilization services for children and teens under 18. These services, delivered by certified providers, address acute issues like self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or severe anxiety through immediate on-site support and follow-up care. The coverage mandate applies to individual/group health, hospital, and medical expense insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, but excludes policies like accident-only, Medicare supplements, or limited-benefit plans. Insurers must cover these services without delaying access through utilization review processes.

Prohibits any health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, manufacturer or other third-party payor from discriminating against any 340B entity participating in a drug discount program.

Maddy summarySB 559 increases penalties for animal fighting offenses under § 4-1-9. For a second or subsequent conviction, imprisonment increases from up to two years to up to five years, and fines rise to a maximum of $5,000. The bill also mandates mandatory community service: 20 hours for a first offense and 50 hours for repeat offenses, with no option to suspend or defer this requirement. This law directly affects individuals convicted of organizing, hosting, or betting on animal fights, applying to all such cases under the existing cruelty to animals statute.

Repeals the required HIV testing for an individual convicted under chapter 34.1 of title 11 and allows the option for HIV testing for any person convicted under this chapter.

Prohibits the declawing of cats by any surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. Does not apply to any procedure performed for a therapeutic purpose.

Allows for the enactment of the dietitian licensure compact permitting a licensed dietitian from another state to become licensed within the state, and also permitting a dietitian licensed by the state to become licensed in another compact state.

Maddy summarySB 359, the Rhode Island Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2025, prohibits the sale, manufacture, and purchase of specific firearms defined as "prohibited" under the bill. It directly affects residents and businesses in Rhode Island who handle or own firearms meeting the defined criteria, such as semi-automatic rifles with folding stocks, pistol grips, or magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Key provisions ban weapons with features like detachable magazines, grenade launchers, or threaded barrels, while allowing limited exceptions for current owners selling to dealers or law enforcement. The ban takes effect July 1, 2026, with violations punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Maddy summarySB 172 caps interest rates on medical debt at a maximum of 4% annually (and minimum of 1.5%), based on the weekly average Treasury yield published by the Federal Reserve. It directly affects consumers who owe healthcare providers for services, limiting interest charges on new medical debt incurred after the law takes effect. The bill sets the interest rate using the Federal Reserve's weekly Treasury yield data from the week before the consumer received their bill. This policy change applies only to new medical debt, not existing balances.

Creates a special license plate for the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Inc. that would support the Blackstone River Valley Environmental Clean-up and Education Fund.

Requires every college in RI to train staff members in the student residential department, including RAs, to administer of opioid antagonists with protection from liability and prosecution.