Sen. Alana DiMario

Maddy summarySB 266 temporarily removes the requirement for clinical social workers to pass a standardized exam to obtain a license, effective immediately until August 15, 2025. This directly affects new applicants seeking clinical social worker licensure in Rhode Island. The bill also directs the licensing board to develop language accommodations and alternative qualification pathways to improve access for diverse communities. After August 15, 2025, the previous exam requirement will resume unless further action is taken.

Maddy summarySB 980 increases Block Island's landing fee from $0.50 to $1.00 per passenger over 12 arriving by boat. The funds collected (after collection expenses) must support health/safety services, tourism facilities, and managing tourism growth. The town can authorize boat carriers or marinas to collect the fee as part of passenger rates without needing utility commission approval.

Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals".

Maddy summarySB 938 authorizes anyone to take green crabs (an invasive species) and creates a $10 annual commercial license for Rhode Island residents who wish to harvest them commercially. The bill establishes a $10 fee per season for commercial licenses and allows the state director to create additional regulations for this license. It directly affects Rhode Island residents seeking to commercially harvest green crabs as part of invasive species management. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 125 sets the state's minimum wage at $16 per hour starting January 1, 2026, and increases it to $17 per hour starting January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects all covered employers and hourly workers in the state who are subject to minimum wage laws. The legislation amends the existing minimum wage schedule by adding these specific future rates, building on previous annual increases. The change takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as confirmed by the bill's recent passage and signing on June 24, 2025.

Clarifies roles and regulatory authority for the administration of the program involving the repurposing of vacant schools for housing, extends the deadline for conducting feasibility studies and expands access to all municipalities.

Requires that any state agency, state institution of higher education, and quasi-public agency that engages in printing more than 50 copies of a contract, publication, brochure, notice, or promotional material to use a state-owned or operated print shop.

Maddy summarySB 98 provides property tax relief for specific groups in Rhode Island, including veterans of qualifying military service (from the Civil War through the Gulf War), gold star parents (parents of fallen service members), visually impaired individuals, and seniors. The bill establishes a base $1,000 property tax exemption for eligible residents, with municipalities allowed to set higher limits (e.g., up to $40,500 in Westerly or $36,450 in New Shoreham). Tax credits or exemptions apply to real property and, in some towns, motor vehicles, with eligibility requiring honorable discharge and state residency. The law, signed by the governor on June 24, 2025, modifies existing tax exemption provisions across all Rhode Island municipalities.

Authorizes a midwife, nurse practitioner or physicians assistant attending a newborn to cause that child to be subject to newborn screening tests for conditions for which there is a medical benefit to the early detection and treatment of the disorder.

Increases from 7 days to 9 days the period of time in which a request for a recount of the votes cast can be made to the board of elections and no certificates of election may be issued until the recount, if any, is completed.