Sen. Andrew Dimitri

Maddy summarySB 551 allows animal control officers to immediately seize animals suspected of neglect or cruelty *before* criminal charges are resolved, requiring a 48-hour notice of a court hearing for permanent rehoming. If a court finds evidence of cruelty or neglect by a preponderance of the evidence, it can terminate the owner’s rights to the animal. Owners must pay reasonable care costs incurred during seizure, and the court may schedule the rehoming hearing before criminal proceedings conclude. The bill directly affects animal owners in cases of neglect, abandonment, or hazardous accumulation (overcrowded conditions), and applies to all animals except those in licensed research facilities or during legal hunting/consumption.

Mandates the use of a soft-shell helmet cover that adds a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet, for students participating in Rhode Island interscholastic league football.

Requires that one third of all Rhode Island teachers, each year for the next 3 years, be trained in the basic emergency and response skills curriculum ("BEARS"), specifically in hand-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation/Heimlich maneuver/bleeding control.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates April 6-12, 2025, as "National Library Week" in Rhode Island. It ceremonially recognizes libraries as community hubs that provide free access to resources, support digital equity, and foster inclusive spaces. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to all Rhode Island libraries and thanks library staff for their service. It has no binding policy effect - it is purely a symbolic acknowledgment of libraries' role in the community.

Maddy summarySB 854 requires public agencies to provide digital copies of public records stored in computer systems at no charge when requested. It directly affects anyone seeking public records, including citizens, journalists, and researchers, by eliminating fees for electronic copies. Key provisions include mandating that agencies provide records in requested formats (like printouts or digital files) without cost, while maintaining existing 10-business-day response timelines for requests. The bill ensures no fees apply specifically to computer-stored records, though agencies may still charge for physical copies or non-digital formats.

Establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority, funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies, which said sales taxes would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.

Maddy summarySB 821 expands the definition of "public official" under Rhode Island's threat law to explicitly include state government caseworkers and investigators. This means threatening these social workers - who help individuals access government resources like benefits or childcare - will now be treated as a felony under the same law that protects elected officials, judges, and law enforcement. The bill amends existing law by adding caseworkers/investigators to the list of protected individuals and defines "state government caseworker" as a social worker providing such services. The change makes threatening these workers punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

Amends the licensing statute to allow a graduate of a board-approved physical therapy school to be reinstated upon a failed examination upon the filing and registering for a second or third examination.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts vehicles owned and operated by members of the Rhode Island judiciary from standard windshield and window transparency requirements. It adds a specific exemption to existing law, allowing judiciary-registered vehicles to use nontransparent windows without needing additional permits. The change applies only to judicial personnel vehicles and does not alter transparency rules for other drivers or vehicles.

Maddy summarySB 303 increases daily pay for jurors serving in Rhode Island superior courts from $25 to $50 per day, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects individuals summoned for jury duty in superior court cases. The bill also allows jurors to voluntarily donate their daily fee to the Rhode Island Veterans Home Community Living Center, with donations deposited into the state general fund. The increased payment requires annual legislative funding to cover the costs.