Sen. Sue Sosnowski

Amends charter of the Union Fire District of South Kingstown by renaming 'Reserve Capital Expenditures' to 'Capital Projects Fund' and allows the board of wardens to grant tax exemptions to current and retired volunteer firefighters and their spouses.

This resolution would create an eight (8) member special legislative study commission whose purpose it would be to study renewable energy programs, and who would report back to the Senate by February 14, 2025, and would expire on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the life of Edith Littlefield Blane, a longtime resident of Block Island and a respected community leader who passed away. The bill acknowledges her significant contributions as the first woman elected First Warden on the island, her decades of service as Town Clerk, and her various roles in local business and civic life. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to her family to express the Senate's condolences.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution creates a 21-member commission to study Rhode Island's shortage of primary care physicians and the feasibility of establishing a state medical school at the University of Rhode Island. The commission, appointed by the Senate President, will gather information from state agencies and submit its findings and recommendations by January 2, 2026. Members of the commission serve without pay, and the group will dissolve on January 31, 2026, after completing its report.

Reduces the number of years from five (5) to three (3), when calculating for retirement purposes, the average of the highest consecutive years of compensation, for teachers, and state and municipal employees.

Provides employees with civil administrative remedies against contractors, subcontractors involved in the contract with joint/severable liability imposed on contractors or subcontractors. Effective 9/1/2024.

Requires radon testing within one year of any residential real estate transaction and the installation of a radon mitigation system if unsafe radon levels are present, at the seller's expense.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program in Rhode Island to track energy use and set performance standards for large commercial and residential buildings with at least 25,000 square feet. It requires these buildings to be benchmarked for energy efficiency and mandates that new construction be designed to support electric systems. The Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council will oversee the program, which includes providing an online tool for owners to improve efficiency and collecting anonymized data to monitor progress toward net-zero emissions.

Adds "loose material" to the contents of a vehicle that must be covered by a covering that must remain in place until the vehicle's contents are purged from the vehicle.

Provides for an appropriation by the general assembly in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) to the various school districts and municipalities to employ additional social workers.