Establishes guidelines, rules and regulations for the implementation and expansion of prekindergarten education programs for children ages 3-4 to increase children’s school readiness statewide.
Defines squatter as a person occupying a dwelling unit who is not authorized by the property owner, landlord or tenant to occupy the unit and provides remedies for property owner including police assistance to remove a squatter.
Expands the benefit definitions of temporary care giver leave to include a grandchild and care recipient and would increase a leave benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and twelve 12 weeks for 2028.
Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.
Maddy summarySB 2392 requires school departments to make GPS data about the real-time location and speed of school buses available electronically to parents or guardians of students transported by those buses. This directly affects families whose children ride school buses, allowing them to track bus movements during transportation. The bill mandates that all new school buses (starting July 1, 2027) and all school buses (by July 1, 2032) must include this GPS data capability alongside video monitoring systems. The law ensures this data access complies with privacy laws and does not interfere with law enforcement.
Proposes a bond measure to authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue up to $36,000,000 in bonds, subject to voter approval, to support the Boys and Girls Clubs.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows county and statewide grand juries in Rhode Island to issue public reports on matters involving code of ethics violations or other public concerns, provided at least twelve jurors agree to the report. The legislation establishes a review process where the superior court examines each report to ensure it is based on evidence, gives named individuals a chance to respond, and removes confidential or prejudicial information before making it public. Named individuals in the reports can appeal the decision to release them to the state supreme court, and the court may seal reports if they could interfere with ongoing criminal cases. The changes apply to both county and statewide grand juries, which will now have the authority to investigate and publish findings beyond traditional indictments.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Bureau of Public Protection within Rhode Island's Department of Attorney General, led by an assistant attorney general and staffed with specialized advocates for consumer protection, healthcare, civil rights, environmental issues, and antitrust enforcement. The bureau will have the authority to investigate and seek court orders against businesses or government entities engaged in repeated illegal acts or persistent illegality, allowing the attorney general to request injunctions, restitution, damages, and penalties on behalf of the state. The law defines illegal conduct as violations of federal or state civil law and explicitly excludes criminal law enforcement from this authority. Additionally, the attorney general may issue civil investigative demands to gather facts before filing applications, and the department must submit an annual report to state legislators detailing the bureau's activities and outcomes.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all vehicles operating within Rhode Island to display a permanent U.S. Department of Transportation number starting April 1, 2027. The rule applies to commercial motor vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds, those transporting hazardous materials, or vehicles designed to carry more than eight passengers for compensation. Several exemptions exist for government-owned vehicles, municipal transit buses, school buses, and driving school vehicles. Violations of the marking requirement or operating a vehicle declared out of service due to safety issues can result in fines.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Virginia's condominium law to improve transparency and accountability for condominium associations. It requires associations to hold annual meetings, allows meetings to be conducted electronically with proper notice, and mandates that meeting minutes be made available to owners within 30 days. The bill also establishes a new requirement for independent financial audits every five years for associations governing more than 20 units, with copies available to all unit owners upon request. Additionally, it creates a condominium ombudsman position to assist owners with disputes and clarifies rules for accessing association records like financial statements and contracts.
