Sen. Andrew Dimitri

Maddy summarySB 827 requires casinos to pay overtime to workers who work on Sundays or designated holidays, such as New Year's Day or Christmas. This bill directly affects casino employees in Rhode Island, as it amends the state's labor law to include them under overtime protections previously excluded. The key change modifies the definition of "employee" to remove casinos from the list of exempt workplaces, ensuring they follow standard overtime rules for holiday and Sunday shifts. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not alter other exemptions, like those for restaurants or healthcare workers.

Maddy summarySB 842 prohibits payment networks, banks, and processors from charging interchange fees (fees between banks for card transactions) on the tax or gratuity portion of a customer's payment. It directly affects merchants who process credit/debit card payments, requiring them to report tax and gratuity amounts during transaction authorization or settlement to avoid these fees. If merchants don’t report upfront, they can submit documentation within 180 days to receive refunds for improperly charged fees. Violations carry $1,000 penalties per transaction and require fee refunds to merchants. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Permits non-sworn public safety officers/security guards at private colleges/universities to detain individuals for no longer than 30 minutes within the campus’s jurisdiction if the officer or guard believes the person committed a criminal offense.

Maddy summarySB 565 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting second-degree sexual assault from the standard three years to ten years. This change directly affects cases involving second-degree sexual assault, allowing prosecutors more time to file charges. The bill amends Section 12-12-17(b) of the General Laws to explicitly include second-degree sexual assault in the list of offenses with a ten-year time limit for prosecution. It does not alter the statute of limitations for other crimes or offenses.

Requires the local board of canvassers to publish early voting dates, hours, and location, at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation and to publish the same on the municipality's website for the duration of in-person early voting period.

Requires superior court clerk to automatically seal cases/individual counts of a criminal complaint/indictment that were dismissed, upon request of the defendant and serve it upon bureau of criminal identification, police department and counsel of record.

Maddy summarySB 598 requires all drivers providing for-hire passenger transportation in Rhode Island - including taxi drivers, bus operators, and ride-sharing (TNC) drivers - to pass a national and state criminal background check before transporting passengers. The check covers serious offenses like murder, sexual assault, violent crimes, DUI causing death, and certain drug or weapon crimes, with disqualifying information reported to the Division of Public Utilities. Drivers must pay for the check, receive a clearance certificate valid for five years, and can appeal denials by demonstrating rehabilitation for past convictions. The bill excludes juvenile records and some minor offenses from consideration, ensuring only relevant criminal history impacts eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 737 allows individuals with a felony conviction to have up to six misdemeanor offenses removed from their criminal records through expungement. It specifically applies to people who have been convicted of more than one but fewer than six misdemeanors (and no felony convictions), excluding certain offenses under Chapter 29. To qualify, individuals must pay all court fees and fines (unless waived by the court), and must wait five years after completing their misdemeanor sentences (or ten years for some cases). The bill does not change eligibility for expunging felony records themselves, only adds this option for those with prior felonies and limited misdemeanor counts.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution (SR 835) that formally commemorates the Feast of St. Joseph, celebrated annually on March 19th. It recognizes Saint Joseph's significance to Christians globally and specifically honors Italian-American cultural heritage in Rhode Island, referencing historical ties to Italian immigrants. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Italian American Historical Society of Rhode Island. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or affect any policies, people, or funding.

Maddy summarySB 539 amends filing fees required to appeal certain district court decisions. It mandates a $50 attorney fee for all civil appeals (paid to the opposing party's lawyer) plus a $75 filing fee (including processing and technology fees), with a minimum $25 in other costs. Landlord-tenant cases get a longer 5-day appeal window (including weekends/holidays) versus the standard 2-day window for other civil appeals. The changes apply to all parties appealing district court judgments and take effect January 1, 2026.