Sen. Bridget Valverde

Maddy summarySB 553 amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act. This bill allows tenants with disabilities to request to keep emotional support animals in their housing accommodations. The amendment aims to clarify protections against discrimination for these tenants regarding housing for their support animals.

Alters a PA’s continuing education requirements, ability to provide charitable care, and authority to clear students to return to sports after health-concern related removal and protect PA’s from certain restrictive covenants.

Maddy summaryThis bill primarily revises the geographical boundaries of school bus districts across the state, affecting kindergarten through 12th-grade students attending public, vocational, special education, and nonpublic nonprofit schools. It redefines nine specific regions and clarifies that the school committee of the student's resident city or town is responsible for providing bus transportation within that region. The bill also details state funding for various education programs, including excess costs for special education, career and technical education, and pre-kindergarten. Additionally, it establishes a stabilization fund to provide financial support for Central Falls, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, covering costs such as transportation and facility maintenance. Students currently receiving transportation under the old district system will transition to the new regions starting July 1, 2029.

Maddy summarySB 687 proposes several changes to the regulation of nurses and the Board of Nursing. The bill revises the composition of the Board of Nursing, adjusting the number and types of professional nurses, practical nurses, and public members, and extends board member terms from three to four years. It also updates the board's powers, allowing it to require physical or psychiatric examinations for licensees with probable cause of impairment and refer them to non-disciplinary alternative programs. Additionally, it clarifies the qualifications for practical nurse applicants and streamlines the electronic license renewal process. These changes directly affect licensed nurses and the state's Board of Nursing.

Removes appointees of state boards, commissions, public authorities and quasi-public who have a corporate/business interest in the subject matter of the board or commission.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 607 amends existing laws related to the regulation of nurses and speech-language pathologists/audiologists. For nurses, the bill clarifies the rules for recent graduates to practice temporarily under supervision while awaiting their licensing exam results, requiring licensure within 90 days of graduation. It also refines conditions for out-of-state nurses who are temporarily practicing in the state. For speech-language pathologists and audiologists, the bill updates certain definitions, such as for "audiology support personnel," to align with current regulatory language. These changes aim to provide clarity and update professional licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a postsecondary tuition assistance program in Rhode Island for individuals pursuing teaching degrees in "shortage teaching fields," such as middle and high school science and mathematics. Administered by the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, the program provides funds for tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and other costs of attending a Rhode Island postsecondary institution. To qualify, recipients must commit to completing at least three years of full-time teaching in a designated shortage field within the state. If this service requirement is not fulfilled, the tuition assistance converts into a loan that must be repaid by the individual. The program is open to both Rhode Island residents and non-residents and does not require SAT or AP scores for admission to the teaching program.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 35 directs the Department of Education and the Office of Energy Resources to develop and adopt regulations for school buildings. By June 30, 2026, these regulations must require all new school construction and renovations to be "zero energy capable" by December 31, 2037, adhering to the latest Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NE-CHPS) standard. The bill mandates that these regulations allow flexibility for local education agencies to pursue state and federal funding for energy projects without reducing their state housing aid. Additionally, it requires guidance for local agencies to build, own, and operate solar panels.

Maddy summarySB 176 establishes the "Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Act." This bill allows students aged 18-21 (or up to 22) with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities, who receive special education services, to attend state colleges and universities. These students are not required to meet standard college admission criteria like entrance exams or a high school diploma. The act aims to provide inclusive educational opportunities, including participation in courses and development of employment and independent living skills, with costs covered as part of their special education services.

Requires the disclosure of the transfer of certain assets of healthcare facilities and provides penalties for failing to file healthcare facility ownership information.