Sen. Matt LaMountain

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates May 2026 as "Fibromyalgia Awareness Month" and May 12, 2026, as "Fibromyalgia Awareness Day" in Rhode Island. The measure aims to increase public understanding of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that affects people of all ages and often involves symptoms like fatigue, sleep disorders, and cognitive difficulties. By encouraging residents, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to participate, the bill seeks to reduce stigma and promote better support for those living with the illness. The resolution also directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the National Fibromyalgia Association to highlight the state's commitment to the cause.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates the week of May 10 through May 16, 2026, as "National Police Week" within the State of Rhode Island. The measure aims to honor police and law enforcement officers who have died while performing their duties by aligning with the national observance established by federal proclamation. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to various police organizations and associations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. This action serves as a formal state recognition of the sacrifices made by law enforcement rather than implementing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of peace officers in Rhode Island to include certain staff members at the state's training school for youth offenders. Specifically, it designates program workers and shift coordinators employed by the Department of Children, Youth and Families as peace officers while they are performing their duties at the training school. Under this change, these individuals would gain the same arrest powers and authority as other designated peace officers during their work hours, but only when actively engaged in their official duties at the facility. The legislation does not alter the roles or responsibilities of these workers beyond granting them temporary peace officer status during their shift.

Maddy summaryThis resolution appropriates $3,000,000 from the state treasury for fiscal year 2026-2027 to Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc. (RILS), a nonprofit providing legal aid to vulnerable Rhode Islanders. The funding directly supports RILS’s work assisting low-income residents, domestic violence victims, veterans, and seniors with critical issues like housing, food security, family safety, and employment rights. The appropriation allows RILS to maintain its statewide services, which historically handle thousands of cases annually to help clients achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Changes the community service requirements of a sentence related to the violation of § 11-44-21.1 relating to defacing private residences, offices, businesses or commercial property.

Enlarges definitions of prohibited acts that constitute hazing, make principals, coaches, athletic directors and others responsible for knowingly failing to take reasonable measures to prevent hazing and punishes serious injury.

Reinstates, for all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment for retirement plan year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Reproductive Health and Gender-Affirming Healthcare Data Privacy Act to protect personal health information related to reproductive and gender-affirming care from unauthorized collection and use. It defines specific categories of protected data, including gender-affirming care information and reproductive health details, and sets strict rules for how companies and organizations can collect, process, and share this information. The law requires clear, informed consent from individuals before their sensitive health data can be gathered, prohibits deceptive design practices that might trick users into sharing information, and restricts the use of broad terms of service agreements to obtain permission for data collection. The legislation primarily affects businesses and entities that handle consumer health data in Rhode Island, requiring them to implement specific privacy safeguards and obtain explicit authorization before processing sensitive reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare records.

Requires that the state’s share to support public library services in fiscal year 2027 be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended by the city or town in the second preceding fiscal year.

Mandates private equity companies or real estate investment trusts (REIT) seeking to invest in healthcare providers or provider-sponsored organizations in this state, submit a notice of material change with the AG and deposit a bond with the DOH.