Establishes the renewable ready program and fund to promotes the responsible siting/development of renewable energy generating resources in locations where it would be an ancillary beneficial use to the redevelopment of previously contaminated property.
Makes amendments to various provisions relative to subdivision of land review, review stages, special provisions related to development and the procedures for approvals from various permitting authorities.
Provides amendments to the membership provisions of planning boards or commissions and would enable municipalities to establish "combined review boards" to replace separate planning and zoning boards.
Amends provisions relative to the application of zoning ordinances pertaining to wetland buffers to projects for development, redevelopment, construction or rehabilitation.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows voters who do not belong to a political party to vote in party primaries without automatically becoming affiliated with that party. Under the new rules, unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in either a Republican or Democratic primary, and their status will remain unaffiliated regardless of which primary they choose. The legislation also clarifies that signing nomination papers or helping candidates does not count as party affiliation for voting purposes. Election officials are required to inform voters at polling places that no additional steps are needed to keep their unaffiliated status after voting in a primary.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that mail ballot drop boxes in Rhode Island remain open for 35 days before regular state, statewide, and federal elections, and for 20 days before special elections. It requires these secure containers to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week when located outside municipal buildings, while also ensuring they are available during business hours if placed inside city or town facilities. The legislation establishes specific rules for labeling, video surveillance, accessibility for people with disabilities, and the public posting of drop box locations on official websites. Additionally, it sets procedures for when drop boxes must be locked on election day and outlines how local boards will manage the collection and transport of ballots.
Makes several amendments relative to manufactured homes, including adding a definition for manufactured home and a provision allowing for certain manufactured homes to be considered a single-family home if on a lot zone for such use.
Adopts a counseling compact for the interstate practice of licensed professional counselors by providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licenses governed and administrated by commission.
Maddy summaryThis bill grants the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC) the exclusive authority to manage federal funds for low-income housing projects across the state. It establishes that only the RIHMFC, its authorized partners, or related organizations may administer these specific rental subsidy allocations, effectively limiting other public housing agencies from doing so. The legislation also expands the RIHMFC's operational powers to include entering into statewide agreements and forming partnerships to carry out these housing assistance programs. By centralizing control over these funds, the bill aims to streamline how low- and moderate-income housing assistance is distributed within Rhode Island.
Prohibits captive hunting for domestic or wild animals and does not prohibit the release of domestic game birds for hunting on licensed shooting preserves.
