Sen. Hanna Gallo

Authorizes the city of Cranston to issue not more than eight million dollars ($8,000,000) general obligation bonds and temporary notes for the acquisition, improvement, renovation and repair of fire and public safety equipment in the city.

Authorizes Cranston to issue not more than $4,000,000 general obligation bonds and temporary notes for the repair, construction and rehabilitation of storm drains and drainage improvements, and remediation and mitigation of drainage and flooding problems.

Authorizes the city of Cranston to issue not more than $4,000,000 general obligation bonds/temporary notes for the acquisition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair and alteration of playgrounds, athletic fields and related equipment in the city.

Authorizes Cranston to issue no more $25,000,000 obligation bonds, notes, evidences of indebtedness to finance the purchase and/or acquisition of land/buildings, construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, landscaping, furnishing, equipping

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the City of Cranston to issue up to $8 million in general obligation bonds to fund the design, construction, repair, and improvement of its streets, sidewalks, and bridges. The funds can be used for various infrastructure projects, including paving, drainage systems, traffic control devices, road maintenance equipment, safety upgrades, and landscaping. The legislation allows the city to sell these bonds in different forms, such as zero coupon or serial bonds, with repayment terms ranging from five to thirty years. Additionally, the bill permits the city to issue temporary notes to manage cash flow before the main bonds are sold and provides a framework for repaying any borrowed funds using future bond proceeds.

Authorizes Cranston to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and temporary notes for the acquisition, demolition, construction, improvement, renovation, repair, alteration, furnishing and equipping of public buildings in the city.

Exempts certain vehicles that are not manufactured with the proper front plate registration bracket from the requirement that motor vehicles display a front facing registration plate.

Maddy summarySB 3293 modifies how veterans and their unmarried widows or widowers receive property tax relief in the city of Cranston, Rhode Island. Specifically, it changes the existing tax exemption for qualifying veterans in Cranston to a tax credit, limiting the annual benefit to a maximum of $182.90 that is adjusted every three years based on property revaluation and the consumer price index. This bill directly affects current and former military service members and their spouses residing in Cranston who would otherwise be eligible for a standard property tax exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act to raise the threshold for declaring a vehicle a total loss from 80% to 85% of its actual cash value. The legislation also adds specific provisions requiring insurers to honor consumer requests to pay directly to chosen rental car companies, auto body shops, and restoration companies up to $5,000. Additionally, the bill mandates that insurers use complete, industry-recognized repair manuals and software systems when assessing vehicle damage and requires licensed appraisers for vehicles with damage exceeding $2,500. These changes directly affect insurance companies, policyholders, and repair facilities by establishing clearer standards for claims handling and vehicle repair processes.

Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.