Allows advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and physicians who are and are not licensed in Rhode Island to provide telemedicine services to patients who are in the state when those services are rendered.
Increases the Rhode Island earned-income credit to twenty percent (20%) on January 1, 2026. Such credit would not exceed the amount of state income tax.
Removes the age restriction for benefits coverage/requires, after 1/1/26, for policies issued or renewed include coverage for reimbursement for provider services at a rate equal to, or greater than, Medicaid establishments of EOHHS.
Removes the five (5) year waiting period for filing a motion to seal an eviction court file. It also deletes the numerical limitation on filing seal requests.
Changes utility company billing practices so that when a gas electric utility changes their customer billing, they are required to file a copy of the new bill with the PUC for approval, with a complete explanation of the changes.
Maddy summarySB 553 amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act. This bill allows tenants with disabilities to request to keep emotional support animals in their housing accommodations. The amendment aims to clarify protections against discrimination for these tenants regarding housing for their support animals.
Maddy summaryThis bill primarily revises the geographical boundaries of school bus districts across the state, affecting kindergarten through 12th-grade students attending public, vocational, special education, and nonpublic nonprofit schools. It redefines nine specific regions and clarifies that the school committee of the student's resident city or town is responsible for providing bus transportation within that region. The bill also details state funding for various education programs, including excess costs for special education, career and technical education, and pre-kindergarten. Additionally, it establishes a stabilization fund to provide financial support for Central Falls, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, covering costs such as transportation and facility maintenance. Students currently receiving transportation under the old district system will transition to the new regions starting July 1, 2029.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 994 commemorates May of 2025 as "National Skin Cancer Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. This resolution acknowledges the prevalence and preventability of skin cancer and directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies to organizations involved in statewide skin cancer prevention efforts.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 607 amends existing laws related to the regulation of nurses and speech-language pathologists/audiologists. For nurses, the bill clarifies the rules for recent graduates to practice temporarily under supervision while awaiting their licensing exam results, requiring licensure within 90 days of graduation. It also refines conditions for out-of-state nurses who are temporarily practicing in the state. For speech-language pathologists and audiologists, the bill updates certain definitions, such as for "audiology support personnel," to align with current regulatory language. These changes aim to provide clarity and update professional licensing requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a postsecondary tuition assistance program in Rhode Island for individuals pursuing teaching degrees in "shortage teaching fields," such as middle and high school science and mathematics. Administered by the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, the program provides funds for tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and other costs of attending a Rhode Island postsecondary institution. To qualify, recipients must commit to completing at least three years of full-time teaching in a designated shortage field within the state. If this service requirement is not fulfilled, the tuition assistance converts into a loan that must be repaid by the individual. The program is open to both Rhode Island residents and non-residents and does not require SAT or AP scores for admission to the teaching program.
