Requires notice to E-ZPass users before DMV reporting, and set rules and regulations for transponder failures, requires outreach and free replacements, and allow mitigation or forgiveness of tolls and penalties from equipment failures.
Requires that an independent efficiency and performance audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the department of administration.
Creates a 9 member commission to study shared services and the potential for regionalization of school districts, and who would report back to the Senate by April 15, 2027, and whose life would expire once its report is issued.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires schools to report the names and reasons for termination of non-teacher employees who are fired for misconduct to the state Department of Education. The department would maintain a confidential list accessible only to hiring authorities for other schools, helping them avoid hiring individuals with documented termination records. The law excludes contract nonrenewals and terminations due to budget cuts or reorganization from this reporting requirement.
Names the India Point Park Overpass pedestrian bridge as the "Joseph M. Lima Overpass" to honor the former Deputy Majority Leader's legislative achievements and his lifelong dedication to the Portuguese-American community.
Proposes a state constitutional amendment to provide no person could hold office as general officer unless that person was a resident and a registered voter in the State of Rhode Island for at least 2 years, continuously, prior to taking office.
Prohibits public utilities, serving greater 100,000 customers from recovering through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with, amongst other costs, advertising, marketing, communications.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows local municipalities in the state to adopt ranked choice voting for their elections once voters approve a charter amendment. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference on their ballots, and votes are counted in rounds where eliminated candidates' votes transfer to voters' next choices. The bill defines specific rules for how ballots are counted in both single-winner and multi-winner elections, including how to handle surplus votes and invalid ballots. It applies only to local elections within jurisdictions that have officially adopted the method through voter approval, and it would eliminate separate primary elections in those areas.
Charges the office of the health insurance commissioner to incorporate uncompensated care as a formula-driven numeric adjustment in the methodology used to establish any affordability standard or rate cap, applicable to hospital contracts.
Maddy summarySB 2464 requires Rhode Island's health insurance commissioner to produce annual reports on insurer practices, including fee schedules, provider credentialing processes, and data disclosure methods for healthcare facilities. The bill mandates that a professional-provider-health-plan work group (part of an advisory council) compile specific data to help consumers compare quality and costs of care. These reports, due by January 1, 2027, will cover topics like insurance dispute resolution, real-time enrollment verification, and the impact of "silent PPOs" on providers. The legislation directly affects health insurers, medical providers, and consumers by increasing transparency in health insurance operations and pricing.
