Allows any peace officer working in a Rhode Island school as a full or part-time resource officer to work in excess of the seventy-five (75) working days in a calendar year, and not have an interruption in their benefits.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 140 amends state law regarding the Corrections Department to modify probation sentences. It specifically prohibits individuals serving a probationary period for driving under the influence offenses that result in death from earning "good time" credits. These credits would typically reduce the length of a probation sentence for compliance with court-ordered terms and conditions. This bill ensures that those convicted of driving under the influence death resulting will serve the full term of their court-ordered probation without such reductions.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 780 amends the state's retirement system for public officers and employees. It specifically adds the roles of administrator of community confinement and home confinement coordinator to the existing retirement provisions for correctional officers. This change means individuals in these positions within the department of corrections would be covered under the established retirement rules, including eligibility ages and service requirements for correctional staff.
Establishes office of inspector general which would be charged with preventing fraud and mismanagement of public funds, regardless of their source and would oversee all state programs and operations.
Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.
Maddy summarySB 112, "The Bright Today Scholarship and Open Enrollment Education Act," aims to provide K-12 students and their parents in Rhode Island with expanded educational choices. It establishes open enrollment, allowing students to attend public schools in their own or other districts. The bill also creates Bright Today Scholarships, or Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which allow public funds to be used by parents for tuition, fees, textbooks, and other approved educational expenses at participating private schools or for private curriculum programs. Unused scholarship funds can roll over to future years.
Maddy summarySB 503, "AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING," seeks to amend existing definitions related to low and moderate-income housing. The bill modifies criteria for what qualifies as "low- or moderate-income housing" and how units are counted towards a municipality's affordable housing inventory. It specifies that certain mobile or manufactured homes can count as one-half of a unit, and rental properties secured with federal assistance vouchers can count as one whole unit, provided specific conditions are met. This legislation aims to refine the framework for establishing and tracking affordable housing in cities and towns.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's sales and use tax laws. It creates a new exemption for the trade-in value of certain pickup trucks. Specifically, the trade-in value of a pickup truck under 6,000 pounds gross weight, used exclusively for personal purposes, would be exempt from sales tax. This means individuals trading in such vehicles would pay sales tax only on the cash difference, rather than the full price of the new vehicle.
Amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to set the regionalization bonus at 2% of the state's share of foundation education aid for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, and for each year thereafter.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate resolution (SR 968) expressing condolences to the family of Ronald D. Newman, a former Richmond Town Council member and longtime Rhode Island Department of Agriculture employee. The resolution honors his 29-year career in state agriculture, his service on the Richmond Town Council (including terms as Council President), and his community contributions. It was unanimously passed by the Rhode Island Senate on April 10, 2025, and directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to his wife, Cathleen Newman, and family. As a non-binding expression of sympathy, it does not create policy or affect any laws or constituents.
