Sen. Pam Lauria

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Green Buildings Act Commission, a 17-member body tasked with overseeing the implementation of green building standards for public construction projects. The legislation requires that all new or significantly renovated public facilities larger than 10,000 square feet meet specific environmental certification standards, such as LEED, SITES, or equivalent high-performance benchmarks, as a condition for receiving building permits and certificates of occupancy. Public school facilities receiving state funding must comply with these standards or the Northeast Collaborative for High-Performance Schools Protocol. The Department of Administration's State Building Office will provide administrative support and funding to the commission, while public agencies must submit required reports and information to ensure compliance with the new requirements.

Requires the public utilities commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.

Requires the courts to consider the parental status of the defendant at the time of sentencing and allows the defendant to present a family impact statement, including testimony, videos and documents relative to their parental status.

Maddy summarySB 2299 allows individuals with multiple non-violent felony convictions to clear their court records after completing their sentences. It specifically applies to people convicted of more than one felony (excluding violent crimes or certain offenses under Chapter 29), provided they have paid all fees and fines and maintained a clean record for 10 years prior to filing. The bill amends existing expungement rules to extend the eligibility period from 5 to 10 years for multiple felony convictions and requires courts to verify no new offenses occurred during that time. It does not apply to violent felony convictions or certain drug-related offenses under Chapter 29. The bill is currently in the introduction stage, having been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summarySB 2313 shortens the waiting period for expunging criminal records. It reduces the time to 3 years after completing a sentence for a single misdemeanor, and 5 years for felony convictions or multiple misdemeanors (2-5 offenses). The bill maintains existing requirements, including paying all court fees and fines (unless waived), and excludes convictions for violent crimes or certain offenses under specific statutes. This change directly affects individuals seeking to clear past criminal records under these categories.

Maddy summarySB 2290 requires courts to release most people arrested for misdemeanors without financial conditions (like cash bail), unless the case involves domestic violence or the court finds a risk the person will skip court or threaten witnesses. It mandates the Department of Corrections to gather background information - including employment, community ties, and criminal history - to help courts decide on non-financial release conditions. Courts may then impose conditions like regular check-ins or community supervision to ensure court appearances and public safety. The bill applies only to misdemeanor cases and does not affect felony charges or existing procedures for those exceptions.

Mandates health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates March 8, 2026, as International Women's Day and the entire month of March as Women's History Month within the State of Rhode Island. The measure recognizes the historical contributions of women to Rhode Island's development and encourages citizens to learn about their achievements and support future equality initiatives. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to the Governor for formal acknowledgment. The resolution serves as a commemorative observance rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors Sandra Lake for her significant contributions to women and communities in Rhode Island. It recognizes her work founding the Extraordinary Woman Award and developing the Woman Development Institute, a nonprofit organization that has provided leadership training and educational support for over 25 years. The resolution acknowledges her efforts to create inclusive, bilingual programs that remove financial barriers for women, youth, and families. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to Sandra Lake as formal recognition of her leadership and advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to fully implement all parts of the state's education funding formula as required by law. The bill specifically targets areas where the department has not yet fully applied statutory funding rules, particularly for students with the greatest needs, multilingual learners, and poverty index calculations. It directs the department to review and ensure complete compliance with existing funding statutes, including how permanent foundation aid is distributed and how local and state shares are calculated. The resolution formally requests this action and authorizes the Secretary of State to send copies to key education officials and the Governor.