Sen. Melissa Murray

Maddy summarySB 389 amends existing law regarding the establishment of charter public schools. This bill prohibits the approval of any new application for a network charter school. It also prevents the expansion of an existing charter school if that expansion would create a network charter school. This directly impacts entities that might seek to establish or grow this specific type of charter school within the public education system.

Allows for a special RI license plate to raise awareness for colon cancer. The plate would be designed by the partnership to reduce cancer in RI. The fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general fund and the partnership not-for-profit.

Maddy summarySB 824, titled the "Reproductive Freedom and Gender Affirming Care Health Data Privacy Act," establishes a new framework to protect sensitive health data. It applies to consumer health data related to reproductive or sexual health and gender-affirming care for Rhode Island residents. The bill defines what constitutes this protected "consumer health data" and "gender-affirming care information." It sets strict requirements for obtaining explicit, informed consent before collecting, processing, or transferring such data, disallowing consent through general terms or deceptive designs. This act aims to regulate how entities handle specific personal health information to ensure consumer privacy.

Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs shall include the name of the dispensing health care practice instead of the name of the dispenser.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the voluntary extension of care program for young adults who are or were in the care and custody of the state. It allows these individuals to voluntarily remain under the legal supervision of the court and receive care and placement from the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) until they reach 26 years of age, an increase from the previous age of 21. To qualify, young adults must be participating in education, job training, or employment, or have a medical condition preventing such activities. DCYF is also required to provide detailed transition plans for youth nearing their 18th birthday, covering aspects like housing, health insurance, and education.

Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.

Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 991, known as the "Price Tags Act," aims to establish fair pricing practices for grocery items sold to retailers and wholesalers in Rhode Island. It requires large suppliers to offer the same sales terms for identical goods to all covered retailers and wholesalers purchasing similar volumes. The bill also mandates suppliers to provide anonymized sales terms from dominant retailers upon request and prohibits them from refusing sales to non-dominant retailers without commercially reasonable justification. This legislation seeks to ensure a more equitable competitive environment among grocery businesses in the state.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 808 seeks to extend support provided by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to a broader group of children. The bill proposes that any extended benefits currently offered by DCYF to children in foster care would also be made available to children who are placed in guardianship. This aims to ensure that children in guardianship arrangements receive the same continued assistance from the department as those in foster care.

Allows Ukrainian parolees residing in Rhode Island under the federal Uniting for Ukraine program, who have been granted temporary parole, to qualify for in-state tuition at Rhode Island state colleges and universities.