Sen. Andrew Dimitri

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the fees and procedures for appealing certain district court decisions to the superior court in civil cases. It requires parties filing an appeal to pay a $75 filing fee, a minimum $25 in costs, and a $50 attorney fee to the opposing party within two days of judgment for general civil cases, or within five days for landlord-tenant disputes. The changes also adjust how costs are calculated and when appeals must be submitted, with the new rules taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.

Amends the refiling process for rules and regulations under the administrative procedures act by implementing a confirmation and attestation system to confirm agency rules and regulations are active and effective.

Requires the board of elections to establish a secure area for the public observation of mail ballot processing and require the mail ballot voter’s signature be compared to the signature on file within the state central voter registration system.

Eliminates prescribed timelines for hearing and determination in certain enforcement actions before the department labor and training to align with reasonable practice.

Clarifies when mobile equipment can travel on a public highway as an incidentally permitted practice limited to the active participation in an active work zone.

Restores law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Rhode Island's business laws by replacing the existing Limited Liability Company Act with a newer model and adding requirements for professional limited liability partnerships to carry liability insurance or set aside segregated funds. The new insurance requirement applies to registered limited liability partnerships that perform professional services, mandating coverage based on the number of professional employees with a minimum of $100,000 and a maximum of $500,000, or alternatively allowing partnerships to deposit funds in trust or use bank letters of credit. The bill also includes provisions that prevent insurance details from being disclosed to juries if compliance is met, and it repeals the current Limited Liability Company Act to incorporate the updated definitions and regulations. These changes directly affect business owners, managers, and legal professionals who operate limited liability partnerships or companies in Rhode Island.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Rhode Island law to rename drug court programs as recovery court, expanding eligibility to include non-violent offenses beyond just drug-related charges. The legislation creates a new position of drug recovery court magistrate within the superior court, who will preside over adult recovery court programs that combine court authority with therapeutic treatment plans for drug-addicted defendants. Key provisions include establishing a ten-year appointment term for magistrates, defining screening criteria for program admission, and granting magistrates the power to impose incarceration for violations of court conditions. The bill also clarifies that participants must sign contracts outlining program expectations and allows for appeals of magistrate orders to a superior court justice.