Sen. Josh Miller

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program in Rhode Island to track energy use and set performance standards for large commercial and residential buildings with at least 25,000 square feet. It requires these buildings to be benchmarked for energy efficiency and mandates that new construction be designed to support electric systems. The Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council will oversee the program, which includes providing an online tool for owners to improve efficiency and collecting anonymized data to monitor progress toward net-zero emissions.

Includes the general assembly elections within the category of elections subject to the risk-limiting audits within the jurisdiction of the board of elections.

Requires RIDE to develop type 1 diabetes informational materials for the parents and guardians of students that will be posted publicly on RIDE's website.

Provides for an appropriation by the general assembly in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the various school districts and municipalities to employ additional social workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for agreements involving the recovery of unclaimed property, such as forgotten bank accounts or safe deposit box contents. It makes contracts that promise to find this property unenforceable if they are signed within 24 months of the property being reported to the state. For agreements signed after that 24-month window, the law requires that fees be capped at 10% of the property's value, the contract be in writing, and the owner be clearly informed that they can claim the property for free from the general treasurer. Additionally, the agreement must detail the property's value and the owner's final share after any fees are deducted, while also allowing owners to challenge fees they consider excessive. These changes directly affect individuals hired to locate unclaimed assets and the owners of those assets.

Broadens the definition of a "qualified individual" in acupuncture and Chinese medicine to include any person trained and certified in auricular acudetox.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Rhode Island Wavemaker Fellowships program by adding a specific definition for "primary care" to the state's general laws. The change clarifies that primary care includes a range of prevention, wellness, and treatment services for common illnesses, covering initial patient visits and long-term relationships with healthcare professionals. This update directly affects the program's eligibility requirements for healthcare applicants, ensuring the definition aligns with standard medical practices. The legislation is procedural in nature, focusing solely on refining existing legal definitions without altering the core tax credit or funding mechanisms of the fellowship.

Establishes, as an affirmative defense to the crimes of circulating obscene publications or shows and selling or exhibiting obscene publications to minors, the person’s employment status as an employee of a school, museum, or library.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program within the Department of Health to train physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in primary care settings. It establishes an office responsible for managing grants awarded to medical practices that meet specific standards, such as achieving a recognized patient-centered medical home designation and offering integrated behavioral health services. Each selected practice site can receive up to $90,000 annually to provide training that includes at least five hours of classroom instruction and exposure to team-based care models. The program director must also set performance standards for grant recipients and submit annual reports to the governor and the state legislature.

Provides that services provided by graduate student interns who work under a supervisory protocol would be eligible to be paid from Medicaid reimbursement.