Sen. Elaine Morgan

Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.

Establishes a new program where the per pupil funding, calculated annually by RIDE, would be transferred into a newly created educational funding account run by the children's scholarship fund to pay for educational expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $30 million ($100,000 per school) to Rhode Island's public schools for safety and security improvements. It directly affects all 300+ public schools in the state by funding specific upgrades like access control systems, audio-visual equipment, and communication technology. The resolution authorizes the state controller to distribute these funds from capital construction funds in the 2026-2027 budget. It does not create new requirements but allocates existing resources for targeted safety enhancements. The funding is intended to address school safety needs following national trends in school security.

Provides that a school district could elect and choose to not spend money on any mandate that is not fully funded through the state education aid formula.

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, 2026, and for each year thereafter.

Allows any peace officer working in a Rhode Island school as a full or part-time resource officer to work in excess of the 75 working days in a calendar year and not have an interruption in their benefits.

Adds a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle and that the owner or occupant of the vehicle acted in self-defense.

Maddy summarySB 2307 creates a legal presumption that property owners, tenants, or occupants acted in justified self-defense if a person dies or is injured while committing a violent crime (like burglary or assault) on their property. It applies when the property owner reasonably believed the intruder posed an imminent threat of serious harm or death to themselves or others lawfully present. The law presumes self-defense without requiring the owner to retreat, and this presumption can be challenged ("rebutted") in court. It directly affects property owners facing criminal or civil cases involving violent offenders injured or killed during crimes committed on their premises. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax deferral program for senior citizens aged 62 and older, disabled citizens, and disabled veterans in Rhode Island. It allows eligible homeowners to postpone paying property taxes on their single-family dwellings until they sell the property, pass away, or transfer ownership, with the unpaid taxes becoming a lien on the property that accrues 6% annual interest. The program excludes homes with reverse mortgages or less than 20% equity, requires applicants to file claims in good faith, and allocates $2 million annually starting in 2027 to fund the deferred tax payments.

Increases the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2029, by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027.