Amends the definition of the practice of pharmacy to include the administration of all forms of influenza immunizations including COVID-19 to individuals over the age of 3 years pursuant to a valid prescription or prescriber approved protocol.
Expands the definition of "employee," and clarifies that the board may defer a pending unfair labor practice charge to allow for the grievance and arbitration process to move forward pursuant to the charging parties collective bargaining agreement.
Requires the department of health to incorporate information about dementia risk factors and reduction into public education and healthcare provider education materials.
Mandates cosmetic medical procedures be performed by a physician, PA, APRN, or delegated to a qualified non-physician, non-PA or non-APRN under the supervision of a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse.
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.
Requires the employers of unionized public school teachers, municipal employees and state employees, to provide the union, at least once every 120 days, a list of all their employees in their union, as well as their personal and demographic information.
Requires payments by the corporation increase from a $3.00 tipping fee per vehicle to a $6.00 tipping fee per vehicle, unless exempt. This act would also require fees be paid to Johnston on an annual rather than a biannual basis.
Requires that the basic education program data collection information for students that attend career and technical education schools be charged to the receiving school district and not the sending school district.
Maddy summarySB 280 updates Rhode Island law to replace "state marshals" with "capitol police" in lists of law enforcement officers exempt from firearm restrictions. The bill specifically amends two statutes (11-47-9 and 11-47-35.1) to ensure capitol police officers qualify for the same exemptions as other sworn law enforcement personnel. This means capitol police officers, like state marshals previously, can carry concealed firearms while on duty without violating state firearm laws. The change directly affects capitol police officers by formally including them in the exemption list. The bill became effective without the governor's signature on June 26, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 729 expands Rhode Island's criminal threats law to specifically protect election officials and workers. It makes threats against election officials (including poll workers, wardens, moderators, and board members) a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, rather than being covered under the general public official provisions. The bill directly affects election workers who perform duties at polling places during elections. Key provisions define "election official" broadly to include all staff at polling locations and clarify that threats targeting them for their role are now explicitly prohibited. This law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 26, 2025.
