Sen. Stefano Famiglietti

Maddy summarySB 2208 establishes a board of trustees to govern the urban collaborative, which includes Providence and other participating Rhode Island school districts. The board will be appointed by member districts (one member plus one additional for every 30 students attending the collaborative), and it will manage collaborative programs for students needing alternative education services. The bill ensures the collaborative receives state education funding directly and prevents Providence from being removed from the collaborative without its school board's approval during state oversight of Providence schools. It also clarifies that the collaborative qualifies for all state and federal education funding as a school district.

Mandates private equity companies or real estate investment trusts (REIT) seeking to invest in healthcare providers or provider-sponsored organizations in this state, submit a notice of material change with the AG and deposit a bond with the DOH.

Increases the amount of state aid distributed to the towns and cities through appropriation in lieu of property tax provisions applicable to certain private and state properties that are exempt from property tax.

Exempts from sales tax the amount paid for a parking space to a patron for one hour or less, in or on a parking facility on which a commercial establishment is located.

Maddy summarySB 2266 bans landlords and property managers from using computer programs (including AI tools) that rely on secret rental data from other landlords or tenants to set or adjust rent for residential properties. It specifically prohibits algorithms using nonpublic competitor data - like actual rent prices, occupancy rates, or lease details - to determine rent amounts or changes. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with limited exemptions for housing programs, monthly market reports, and basic internal record-keeping systems. It directly affects residential landlords who currently use such tools to price rentals.

Maddy summarySB 2503 establishes a maximum 8-hour workday for most state peace officers (with a 10-hour limit for correctional officer stewards) to protect their health and safety. The bill prohibits the state from requiring overtime beyond these limits, except in unforeseeable emergencies like riots, and only after the employer makes reasonable efforts to secure volunteer staff. If the state violates this rule, it must pay affected officers double time and a half of their regular hourly wage. The law takes effect upon passage and does not override existing collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summarySB 2639 would allow customers at restaurants and food service businesses to take single-use plastic straws directly from a dispenser instead of needing to request them from staff. This change would directly affect customers seeking straws and food service establishments that currently provide straws only upon request. The bill modifies the default practice for straw distribution without banning plastic straws or imposing new fees. It focuses on streamlining customer access to straws at the point of service.

Maddy summarySB 2740 requires healthcare workers (such as nurses, technicians, and support staff in hospitals or clinics) to receive time-and-a-half pay for any work performed on Sundays or public holidays. This applies directly to employees in healthcare settings who work on these days, mandating higher compensation for that specific schedule. The key provision replaces the current pay structure for Sunday/holiday shifts with a guaranteed 50% premium for all eligible healthcare workers. The bill aims to provide clearer compensation standards for these shifts without altering broader overtime rules.

Grants hourly credit of 288 hours against 576 hours if graduate of accredited trade school/raises to 4 years of work under master plumber and requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 5 years of registration with DLT.

Maddy summarySB 2420 allows Rhode Island National Guard members in good standing to use their state tuition assistance benefits for their dependents. Dependents enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) can receive tuition waivers for up to five courses per semester at any Rhode Island state college or university. The program is funded up to $100,000 annually per fiscal year, requires a one-year military service commitment for each 12 course credits used, and mandates that both the Guard member and dependent maintain good academic standing. Failure to meet service or academic requirements may trigger repayment of benefits.