Sen. Todd Patalano

Maddy summarySB 757 allows Rhode Island National Guard members in good standing to allocate their state tuition assistance benefits to their dependents. Dependents must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and enrolled in Rhode Island state colleges or universities. The bill requires members to commit to one additional year of service for every 12 course credits covered for themselves or their dependents, with repayment required if obligations aren't met. This expands existing tuition benefits for National Guard members to include family members, subject to specific eligibility and service requirements.

Recognizes that municipal employees have the opportunity to utilize interest arbitration and would establish new factors for the arbitrators to consider. These factors include comparisons of wages/hourly conditions of employment in similarly skilled jobs.

Allows animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and would increase penalties for malicious injury to or killing of animals.

Establishes a restricted receipt account at the DLT for hospitality industry workforce training grants, funded by an annual $50 dollar fee to be charged by RIDOH to food service establishments.

On 7/1/2026, renewal of any existing sports wagering vendor contract by state lottery ceases. Prior to expiration, the lottery shall invite vendors to submit applications for sports wagering awarding not less than 2 but not more than 5 contracts.

Allows retired state employees who worked for the unified judicial system as certified or qualified court interpreters to be employed or reemployed for a limited period in a given year.

Requires employers to provide each employee of a warehouse distribution center, upon hire, with written description of quotas applicable to the employee within defined time periods and adverse employment action for failure to meet the quota.

Maddy summarySB 1045 exempts new subchapter S corporations (S corporations) in their first year of operation from paying Rhode Island's minimum corporate tax of $400. This applies to businesses that elect S corporation status under federal tax law and file their first state tax return. The bill specifically removes the requirement for these new entities to pay the minimum tax during their initial taxable year, though they remain subject to the regular 7% income tax on profits. The exemption takes effect immediately upon passage, affecting only first-year S corporations.

Maddy summarySB 895 suspends the gross earnings tax on electric and gas utility companies from January 1, 2026, through January 1, 2035. Specifically, it stops the 4% tax on electricity corporations (as defined in subsection 2) and the 3% tax on gas corporations (as defined in subsection 6) during this period. The bill does not permanently repeal the tax but delays its collection for a decade. This directly affects utility companies that generate electricity or distribute gas to the public. The suspension takes effect on January 1, 2026, as specified in the bill text.

Maddy summarySB 409 modifies Rhode Island's personal income tax calculation for residents. It adds certain income types to taxable income, including nonqualified withdrawals from college savings plans (like funds used for non-educational expenses) and forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans exceeding $250,000. It also allows a deduction of up to $500 (or $1,000 for joint filers) for contributions to Rhode Island's tuition savings program. The bill directly affects residents with these specific income sources or contributions, effective January 1, 2025.