Creates the position of dementia services coordinator within the department of health to coordinate the departments' approach to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
Allows foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.
Maddy summarySB 2718 increases fines for speeding violations in residential neighborhoods and school zones. It directly affects drivers who exceed speed limits in these specific areas. The bill establishes higher penalty amounts for speeding offenses occurring near homes or schools, aiming to enhance safety in vulnerable locations. This change modifies existing traffic penalty structures without altering speed limit laws themselves. The bill was introduced to the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 27, 2026.
Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs may include the name of the dispensing healthcare practice instead of the name of the dispenser.
Allows the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC) as the state agency that has the authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care to obtain maximal health outcomes.
Makes students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the community college of Rhode Island eligible to receive the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship.
Maddy summarySB 2101 establishes Rhode Island's Medical Primary Care Scholarship Program to address provider shortages. It provides up to five $70,000 annual scholarships per year for medical students and five $47,000 annual scholarships for nurse practitioner or physician assistant students. Recipients must agree to work in Rhode Island primary care for a period matching their scholarship duration (4 years for med students, 2 years for NPs/PAs) and sign a promissory note for funds received. The program, administered by the Department of Health and Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, aims to recruit and retain primary care providers to meet the state's growing healthcare needs.
Maddy summarySB 2457, the Rhode Island Kratom Act, requires retailers to store all kratom products behind a locked case until sold, directly affecting businesses selling kratom. The bill prohibits sales to anyone under 21, mandating valid photo ID (like a driver's license or passport) to verify age at purchase. These rules take effect April 1, 2026, applying to all kratom product transactions in Rhode Island. The law focuses on physical storage and age verification as its core mechanisms.
Maddy summaryThis Rhode Island Senate resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass technical amendments to the federal Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022. The bill directly affects military personnel and their families who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987 and are seeking compensation for health injuries. It calls for changes to clarify legal standards and improve the speed of claim processing to address current administrative delays. The resolution does not create new laws itself but serves as a formal request to the federal government to fix existing issues in the claims system.
Creates an 11-member commission to study and make recommendations on a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and would report quarterly as of September 1, 2026, and submit a final report by September 1, 2027, and expires on December 31, 2027.
