Reduces the number of times the director of the lottery has to confer with the permanent joint committee on state lottery from nine (9) times per year to four (4) times per year or at the call of the chair and vice chair of the committee.
Prohibits the use of service agreements that are unfair to an owner of residential real estate who enters into such an agreement or to persons who may become owners of that real estate in the future.
Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.
Makes it a felony for any person to remove or attempt to remove any firearm or other weapon or any communication device from any peace officer or investigator of the department of attorney general.
Allows members of the retirement system who served in the national guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National guard or reserves.
Permits retired superior court magistrates to be assigned to perform service pursuant to §§ 8-2-11.1, 8-2-39, 8-2-39.1 or 8-2-39.2 and be reemployed by the superior court without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits.
Maddy summarySB 952 amends the state's "Credit Card Crime Act" to explicitly include "debit cards" under the definition of cards subject to fraud penalties. This change directly affects individuals who commit fraud using stolen or counterfeit debit cards, ensuring such acts are covered under the same legal provisions previously applied only to credit cards. The bill modifies existing law to state that fraudulent use of "credit or debit cards" violates the statute, maintaining the same penalty structure based on the value obtained (e.g., $100 threshold over six months). It does not create new offenses or penalties but clarifies that debit card fraud is now explicitly prohibited under the current law.
Maddy summarySB 953 exempts emergency mail ballots from needing the specific "Mail voters" wording on the ballot. This change applies directly to voters who cast ballots by mail during declared emergencies under §17-20-2.2(g). The bill removes a requirement for the secretary of state to print this phrase on emergency mail ballots, streamlining the ballot process for those situations.
Maddy summarySB 354 increases the per-page transcription fees for court reporters in Rhode Island court proceedings. It raises the fee for original transcripts to $3.50 per page and for copies to $2.00 per page, while setting a $10.00 fee per cassette for electronic recording reproductions. This bill directly affects court reporters who provide transcripts and parties (individuals or attorneys) who request them. The change applies to all civil and criminal cases in superior, family, district, and traffic courts. The bill took effect upon the Governor's signature on June 10, 2025.
Raises the amount of life insurance the state provides at no charge to Rhode Island National Guard members called up for federal duty to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).
