Requires that the chief judge of the family court in appointing magistrates do so in accordance with the judicial selection and nomination process set forth in chapter 16.1 of title 8.
Requires the JNC to establish standardized merit-based selection process and that applications be evaluated according to uniform, job-related criteria adopted in advance and published on the commission's website.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit program to encourage investments in small Rhode Island businesses with 99 or fewer employees. Under the new Rhode Island Local Investment Tax Credit Act, eligible taxpayers who invest in qualifying local businesses could receive a 50% tax credit, up to a maximum of $3,000 per business and $3,000 total per year. To qualify, the business must be headquartered in Rhode Island, derive at least 80% of its revenue from state operations, and hold at least 80% of its assets within the state. The state would annually appropriate funds from the general fund to offset any revenue loss from the tax credits, and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Strategic Fund would manage the certification process for eligible investments.
Maddy summarySB 2028 imposes a tiered sales tax on digital advertising services sold within Rhode Island, affecting large digital advertising companies based on their global revenue (2.5% for $100M-$1B revenue, 5% for $1B-$5B, 7.5% for $5B-$15B). The tax revenue will be distributed annually to specific state funds: 10% to public transit (RIPTA), 15% to climate resiliency, 5% to university research, 20% to housing, 10% to school lunches, 20% to municipal resilience, and 20% to the general fund. The tax applies to purchases of digital ads within Rhode Island and takes effect on July 1, 2026. It does not allow companies to add the tax as a separate fee on customer invoices but requires clear disclosure of the amount.
Eliminates the sunset on the provision of funding, modify eligibility requirement to 85% of state median income and expand funding to at least 20 hours per week.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates May 10, 2026, as Lupus Day in Rhode Island to raise awareness about the autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The bill aims to highlight the need for better public understanding of lupus symptoms and improved access to specialized medical care for patients. Additionally, the resolution encourages charitable donations to the Lupus Foundation of America and similar organizations dedicated to research and patient support. The Secretary of State will officially send a copy of this proclamation to the foundation to formalize the state's recognition of the cause.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies state procurement rules to allow the state to purchase food and food supplies worth less than $25,000 in total under existing small purchase regulations. It directly affects state agencies responsible for procuring food items by adjusting the monetary threshold for these transactions. The key provision permits smaller aggregate purchases without requiring additional approval processes, streamlining how the state acquires food supplies. This change applies specifically to state purchases and does not alter broader procurement laws for other types of goods or services.
Maddy summarySB 2563 mandates an independent study by Rhode Island's auditor general to evaluate whether consolidating Medicaid prescription drug management would save costs and improve transparency. The study must compare four models used by other states, including single statewide drug lists (like Connecticut) or direct state contracting (like Kentucky), and assess impacts on state spending, pharmacy rebates, and beneficiary access. It requires full data access from pharmacy benefit managers and related entities - bypassing contractual confidentiality - to ensure the analysis uses complete information on drug expenditures and rebates. This bill directly affects Rhode Island's Medicaid program, which covers children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families, by setting the stage for potential future changes to drug management.
Strengthens enforcement of the state's pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.
Maddy summaryThis bill would cancel and nullify all previous applications by the Rhode Island General Assembly to call a federal constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It applies to any past applications, whether for limited or general conventions, regardless of when they were adopted or how they are recorded. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to federal and state officials within 30 days of passage. If passed, this action would remove Rhode Island's prior requests from the official record of state applications for a constitutional convention.
