Raises the gross weight of a vehicle eligible for reserve forces plates from 8,500 lbs. to 12,000 lbs. with US flag on the plates. Proof of honorable discharge to be provided to DMV.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Green Buildings Act Commission, a 17-member body tasked with overseeing the implementation of green building standards for public construction projects. The legislation requires that all new or significantly renovated public facilities larger than 10,000 square feet meet specific environmental certification standards, such as LEED, SITES, or equivalent high-performance benchmarks, as a condition for receiving building permits and certificates of occupancy. Public school facilities receiving state funding must comply with these standards or the Northeast Collaborative for High-Performance Schools Protocol. The Department of Administration's State Building Office will provide administrative support and funding to the commission, while public agencies must submit required reports and information to ensure compliance with the new requirements.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates March 2026 as "Arts in the Schools - Youth Art Month" in Rhode Island to recognize the importance of arts education. The bill celebrates the contributions of arts educators, artists, and administrators while encouraging citizens to observe the month and support arts programs in schools. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. The resolution highlights how arts education benefits students by fostering skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and cultural competency.
Requires the public utilities commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.
Maddy summarySB 2518 creates Rhode Island's first Interior Design Practice Act, establishing a registration system for interior designers. It directly affects interior designers practicing in Rhode Island by requiring them to register with a new state board and hold NCIDQ certification. The bill defines "practice" as nonstructural interior design work (like space planning and material selection) while explicitly excluding structural engineering or architectural services. It sets standards for education, experience, continuing education, and professional oversight to ensure public safety in interior design projects.
Maddy summarySB 2316 makes assaulting a sports official (like a referee, umpire, or coach) during their duties a felony, affecting all levels of organized sports including youth leagues, schools, and professional events. The bill imposes penalties of up to three years in prison or a $3,000 fine for basic assault, and 3-20 years in prison or a $10,000 fine if serious bodily injury occurs. Convicted individuals must also pay restitution to victims, complete up to 500 hours of community service, or attend counseling, in addition to any prison time or fines. This law applies to assaults before, during, or after any sporting event where officials are enforcing rules.
Maddy summarySB 2346 creates tax exemptions for property, tangible personal property, sales, and use taxes to incentivize the development of qualified data centers in Rhode Island. It directly affects data center developers and operators who meet the bill's criteria, including those making eligible costs for construction, equipment, and site development. The key provision allows qualifying data center projects to avoid these taxes on specific expenses like land, buildings, equipment, and labor costs related to construction. This policy aims to attract data center investments by reducing development costs for businesses meeting the defined standards. The bill modifies existing law governing the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to implement these tax incentives.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day and the entire month of March as Women's History Month within the State of Rhode Island. The measure recognizes the historical contributions of women to Rhode Island's development and encourages citizens to learn about their achievements and support future equality initiatives. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Governor for formal acknowledgment. The resolution serves as a commemorative observance rather than establishing new laws or policies.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to fully implement all parts of the state's education funding formula as required by law. The bill specifically targets areas where the department has not yet fully applied statutory funding rules, particularly for students with the greatest needs, multilingual learners, and poverty index calculations. It directs the department to review and ensure complete compliance with existing funding statutes, including how permanent foundation aid is distributed and how local and state shares are calculated. The resolution formally requests this action and authorizes the Secretary of State to send copies to key education officials and the Governor.
Removes the sunset provision of the Rhode Island hope pilot scholarship program, making it a permanent scholarship program and renames the program as the Rhode Island hope scholarship program.
