Sen. Alana DiMario

Limits the use of certain criminal records and credit history reports in denying housing to prospective applicants, and provides for fines for failure to comply. This act further requires notices of denials to be sent to the prospective tenants.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SB 111, proposes to discontinue the tax rate reductions provided under the "Jobs Development Act." It would sunset all existing rate reductions from this program by July 1, 2025. Companies that qualified for a rate reduction before July 1, 2015, would be allowed to maintain their existing reduction until the 2025 deadline, provided they continue to meet their obligations. No new credits or additional rate reductions would be authorized under the Jobs Development Act after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 212 amends the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish "just cause" eviction requirements for residential tenancies. This bill prevents landlords from removing tenants or refusing to renew leases without a court order based on specific "good cause" grounds. It directly affects residential landlords and tenants. Exemptions include owner-occupied premises with fewer than four units and situations where the sublessor seeks possession for personal use. One specified ground for good cause is a tenant's failure to pay rent, unless the rent increase was unreasonable.

Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse, including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 94 (SB 94) proposes to exempt the retail sale of beer and malt beverages from sales and use tax. If enacted, this bill would mean that consumers purchasing these products would no longer pay sales tax on them. Retailers selling beer and malt beverages would also no longer be required to collect sales tax on these specific items.

Would provide children up to age three (3) with continuous coverage eligibility for RIte Track/RIte Care so that they are not at risk of losing coverage at the yearly redetermination due solely to administrative barriers.

Changes utility company billing practices so that when a gas electric utility changes their customer billing, they are required to file a copy of the new bill with the PUC for approval, with a complete explanation of the changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill primarily revises the geographical boundaries of school bus districts across the state, affecting kindergarten through 12th-grade students attending public, vocational, special education, and nonpublic nonprofit schools. It redefines nine specific regions and clarifies that the school committee of the student's resident city or town is responsible for providing bus transportation within that region. The bill also details state funding for various education programs, including excess costs for special education, career and technical education, and pre-kindergarten. Additionally, it establishes a stabilization fund to provide financial support for Central Falls, the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School, and the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, covering costs such as transportation and facility maintenance. Students currently receiving transportation under the old district system will transition to the new regions starting July 1, 2029.

Modifies the real estate sales disclosure form to include the disclosure of “blower door diagnostic air leakage testing” and advises that air leakage testing is recommended prior to purchasing a residential unit.

Includes municipal detention facility corporations as exempt from taxation, and requires that an amount equal to 27% of all tax that would have been collected if the property was taxable be paid to the municipality annually.