Sen. Alana DiMario

Maddy summarySB 483 (Pharmacy Refill Bill) allows pharmacists to dispense a one-time refill of essential medications for up to 100 days under specific conditions. It directly affects patients who cannot reach their prescriber for a refill and pharmacists managing medication continuity. The bill permits refills only for non-controlled substances (excluding Schedule II-V drugs) needed for life-sustaining or chronic conditions, where stopping treatment could cause health risks, and requires pharmacists to notify the prescriber within seven business days. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and aims to prevent treatment interruptions without prescriber authorization.

Maddy summarySB 263 requires most health insurance plans in the state to cover mobile mental health crisis response and stabilization services for children and teens under 18. These services, delivered by certified providers, address acute issues like self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or severe anxiety through immediate on-site support and follow-up care. The coverage mandate applies to individual/group health, hospital, and medical expense insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, but excludes policies like accident-only, Medicare supplements, or limited-benefit plans. Insurers must cover these services without delaying access through utilization review processes.

Prohibits any health insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, manufacturer or other third-party payor from discriminating against any 340B entity participating in a drug discount program.

Establishes a program operated by the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation called the "housing land bank" to create affordable housing in RI with the authority to buy, receive, and hold real property for housing development.

Maddy summarySB 1110 increases the landing fee for passengers arriving by boat in Narragansett's Port of Galilee from $0.50 to $1.00 per person over age 12. This fee applies to all public or private boat arrivals (excluding commercial fishing vessels) and funds will support passenger safety, emergency services, and infrastructure. The town can authorize ferry operators or marinas to collect the fee and pay a 15% administrative fee for their service. The bill directly affects boat passengers and ferry operators in Narragansett, with no changes to existing fee collection rules for commercial fishing.

Maddy summarySB 1009 allows towns like New Shoreham to create tax classification plans for different property types (e.g., residential, commercial, vehicles) with specific rate limits. It requires that tax rates for most property classes cannot exceed rates for other classes by more than 50%, except in limited cases like Providence or Glocester. Towns must document rate changes to avoid reducing overall tax revenue after revaluations, and some towns (like Middletown and Scituate) have special rules for their existing tax structures. The bill directly affects local governments by setting boundaries for how they structure property tax rates, ensuring consistency and preventing disproportionate burdens. It does not create new taxes but establishes procedural rules for existing local tax systems.

Prohibits the declawing of cats by any surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. Does not apply to any procedure performed for a therapeutic purpose.

Requires every college in RI to train staff members in the student residential department, including RAs, to administer of opioid antagonists with protection from liability and prosecution.

Maddy summarySB 729 expands Rhode Island's criminal threats law to specifically protect election officials and workers. It makes threats against election officials (including poll workers, wardens, moderators, and board members) a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, rather than being covered under the general public official provisions. The bill directly affects election workers who perform duties at polling places during elections. Key provisions define "election official" broadly to include all staff at polling locations and clarify that threats targeting them for their role are now explicitly prohibited. This law took effect immediately upon the governor's signature on June 26, 2025.

Increases the taxable wage base for TDI claims from $38,000 to $100,000 or the annual earnings needed by an individual to qualify for the maximum weekly benefit amount and the maximum duration under chapters 39 through 41 of this title.