Sen. Matt LaMountain

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Rhode Island's state education department and high school sports league to create a statewide anti-hazing policy for student athletics. It mandates clear definitions of hazing, zero-tolerance sanctions (including team suspensions or season cancellations), and education components to prevent hazing. All schools in the state participating in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League must follow this policy, which also requires student-athletes to sign an acknowledgment of the rules before joining teams. The policy explicitly states that consent is never a defense for hazing and ensures consistent discipline across all schools. The bill takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 2453 allows cities and towns to create programs waiving interest on overdue property taxes for commercial properties. To qualify, taxpayers must own the commercial property for five years, provide written proof of timely tax payments for five years, and request the waiver within two years of the overdue bill. The waiver is capped at $500 per request, and local tax collectors must issue written decisions with appeal options to city councils. This bill enables local governments to adopt ordinances implementing this relief, directly affecting commercial property owners who fall behind on quarterly tax payments.

Incorporates cable, broadband, Internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines and authorizes municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 2491 changes the date for selecting delegates to national political conventions and presidential preference primaries from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March, starting in 2028. This affects voters in this state who participate in presidential primaries and the state election administration. The bill specifically amends the law to set the new date for 2028 and all subsequent presidential election years, while keeping the 2024 primary on April 2, 2024. The change takes effect upon passage and does not alter other primary procedures.

Requires owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights.

Maddy summarySB 2130 requires the state board of elections to publish all write-in votes online, regardless of whether the candidate is qualified or if the votes could affect election results. It mandates that local election boards adjudicate write-in votes in races where the total could impact outcomes, and the state board must publish these adjudicated votes along with all write-in votes cast, including those with fewer than five votes. This applies to all federal, state, and local races, ensuring transparency in how write-in votes are processed and reported. The bill changes existing rules by requiring mandatory public disclosure of all write-in ballots, not just those affecting election margins.

Requires that all monies received from the payment of fines under the Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking be deposited into the into the violent crimes indemnity account within the general fund.

Makes it a felony for any person to remove or attempt to remove any firearm or other weapon or any communication device from any peace officer or investigator of the department of attorney general.

Permits the implementation of a system of electronic registration and titling of motor vehicles, by the DMV and requires that rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter, be promulgated by the administrator of the DMV.

Maddy summarySB 2182 removes the fee for drivers education classes at Rhode Island's community colleges for youth living in foster or adoptive homes. This directly affects young people in these care settings who would otherwise pay the standard fee to complete required driver's education. The bill's key provision exempts these individuals from the fee requirement, making the program more accessible. This change reduces a financial barrier to obtaining driver's education, which is a prerequisite for a driver's license in Rhode Island.