Prohibits employers from seeking/using credit reports in making hiring decisions concerning prospective employees, asking questions about the applicant's financial past during interviews or including credit history questions in their job applications.
Creates the division of civil representation within the department of housing and require civil representation by a Designated Legal Organization to provide legal representation to all tenants who qualify in eviction proceedings.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords managing six or more residential units to place tenant security deposits in federally insured interest-bearing accounts, with all accrued interest belonging to the tenant. It maintains existing rules that limit security deposits to one month's rent and outlines specific deductions for unpaid rent, cleaning, trash disposal, and damages beyond ordinary wear and tear. Landlords must return the deposit plus any interest within 20 days of lease termination, while tenants of smaller properties remain unaffected by the interest requirement. The legislation also clarifies that furniture security deposits are permitted for furnished apartments with replacement values of $5,000 or more, provided they follow similar return timelines and deduction rules.
Maddy summarySB 2441 imposes a $2-per-ton fee on solid waste disposal in Rhode Island, collected from waste haulers and landfill operators. Revenue from this fee funds a Compost Fund that awards grants to support composting facilities, organic waste diversion programs, and municipal waste reduction initiatives. Municipalities must opt into the fee program to qualify for related grants. The bill directly affects waste disposal companies, participating municipalities, and organizations seeking funding for composting infrastructure, aiming to reduce landfill use as Rhode Island's central landfill is projected to fill by 2043.
Raises the minimum fee per barrel of petroleum products or crude oil from five cents ($0.05) to twelve cents ($0.12) per barrel as part of the uniform oil spill response and prevention fee.
Limits how landlords use criminal history in rental decisions by delaying background checks until after a conditional offer has been made, restricting which records may be considered, banning discriminatory ads, and providing enforcement and penalties.
Amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act to clarify housing-status enforcement, ban discriminatory housing notices, align state law with federal standards and remove a ban on public discussion of fair housing cases.
Directs the general assembly to fund ten full time equivalent positions in FY 2027 to support DEM's efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.
Authorizes an increase in resource eligibility limits for persons with long-term-care needs who reside at home and requires semi-annual reports from Medicaid certified assisted living facilities and adult day service providers to the EOHHS.
Precludes a legal entity from owning property whose value is over $25,000,000. If the property value exceeds $25,000,000, then the entity must divest a graduated yearly amount over the next 10 years, until value is less than $25,000,000.
