Sen. Sue Sosnowski

Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island and provides an initial appropriation of five million dollars ($5,000,000) as the first phase of a multi-year investment for the development of a medical school.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates May 2026 as "National Women's Health Month" within the State of Rhode Island. The measure highlights the importance of proactive healthcare, early disease detection, and lifestyle habits for women of all ages. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the Governor and the Department of Health to formalize the observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from engaging in specific deceptive trade practices, such as hidden payment reductions, steering patients toward affiliated pharmacies, or using patient data to gain economic control over pharmacies. It directly affects pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacists, pharmacies, and healthcare enrollees by defining and banning actions like spread pricing, unfair inducements, and restrictive refill policies for maintenance medications. The legislation also forbids PBMs from exploiting prescription data for marketing or repackaging drugs to extract price markups without informing patients. Violations of these rules are classified as unfair competition, and each individual transaction involving a prohibited act is considered a separate offense.

Provides the board of trustees with tort claim protections and calls upon the board to undertake a feasibility study related to operations of the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center and the Rhode Island Atomic Energy Commission.

Maddy summarySB 2024, the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026, creates a fund to recover costs for climate adaptation projects from fossil fuel companies responsible for significant emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and caused over 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 2000-2025, using a scientific method to calculate their proportional share. The law requires these companies to pay for "climate change response work" like coastal protection, flood infrastructure, heat mitigation, and ecosystem restoration projects already funded by taxpayers. The Department of Environmental Management will manage the fund and identify eligible projects, shifting costs from public budgets to polluters under a "polluter pays" principle.

Maddy summarySB 2248 creates a new income-based discount program for low-income households to make home energy costs affordable. It requires large electric and gas utilities (over 100,000 customers) to design a tiered discount plan by 2027, capping energy costs at 3-6% of household income depending on whether electric or gas is the primary heat source. Eligible households (at or below 150% of the federal poverty level) would receive fixed monthly discounts, with past bill arrears forgiven over 24 months. The program’s costs, including administration, would be covered through rate increases for other utility customers, as determined by the Public Utilities Commission.

Enhances and further defines the role of the board of trustees of the University of Rhode Island. This act would also provide a more efficient procurement process for the university.

Mandates public schools (K-12) have one full-time certified social worker for every 250 students and allocates $2 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for school districts and municipalities to hire additional social workers.

Maddy summarySB 2247 amends retirement rules to allow retired state employees to work in specific part-time roles without losing retirement benefits. It permits retired teachers to teach at state colleges (capped at $25,000 annually), retired nurses to provide per diem care at state facilities (capped at 75 working days yearly), and retired driver education instructors to teach (capped at $15,000 annually), with no additional retirement contributions or service credits. Employers must report such employment monthly to the retirement board. The bill also includes other exemptions, like for mayors or school committee members, but these do not grant additional retirement benefits.

Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 3.34% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.