Sen. Pete Appollonio

Provides $4,000,000 to support comprehensive and effective afterschool, school vacation, summer learning and workforce development programs for students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12).

Requires the EOHHS to amend the state Medicaid plan and secure sufficient state general revenue to increase Medicaid payment rates to an amount equal to one hundred thirty percent (130%) of Medicare rates for outpatient clinical pediatric services.

Establishes a statewide “Healthy School Meals for all” universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over 3 years

Provides that compensation comparability studies of senior management, documents discussed at an open meeting, annual contracting reports, list of current salaries and positions, and all policies and procedures of public corporations be made public.

Provides that minor subdivisions would include oversized lot subdivisions under certain circumstances and relative to zoning ordinances, permit a modification to allow "neighborhood character-based modifications" under certain circumstances.

Mandates all insurance contracts, plans or policies provide insurance coverage for the expense of diagnosing and treating infertility, for women between the ages of 25 and 42 years including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in conjunction with IVF.

Maddy summarySB 341 proposes to provide a full property tax exemption for real property owned by a veteran and used as their primary residence. Currently, veterans receive various partial property tax exemptions, with amounts differing based on their service and the specific municipality. This bill would replace those existing partial exemptions with a complete property tax exemption for their primary home, directly affecting eligible veteran homeowners.

Maddy summarySB 1046 amends the state's sales and use tax laws related to hotel taxes. Currently, there is a 5% state hotel tax and a 1% local hotel tax on hotel stays and similar accommodations. This bill introduces a new provision that allows individual cities and towns to levy an *additional* local hotel tax, up to a maximum of two percent (2%). This means a community could increase its total local hotel tax from one percent to up to three percent, with the state's division of taxation generally collecting and distributing these local taxes to the respective municipalities.

Maddy summarySB 330 allows cities and towns to create ordinances that permit the waiver of interest on one quarter's overdue property tax payment. This applies to both residential and commercial property owners who meet specific criteria, such as owning the property for at least five years and having a history of timely tax payments. The bill stipulates that the maximum interest waiver cannot exceed $500 and requires a written request from the taxpayer. If granted, the remaining tax balance can still be paid on a quarterly basis.

Maddy summarySB 621 amends the state's Mental Health Law to extend immunity from liability to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This bill grants APRNs the same legal protections as physicians and surgeons when participating in mental health proceedings. Specifically, APRNs would not be held liable in court for their involvement, except in instances of actual fraud or gross, willful, or wanton negligence. This change directly affects APRNs by providing them with expanded legal immunity within the mental healthcare system.