Sen. Sam Bell

Establishes the commuter transportation benefit chapter. Employers with five hundred (500) or more employees required to establish a pre-tax commuter transportation fringe benefit program.

Maddy summarySB 2494 creates new rules for companies that fund lawsuits (called "litigation financiers") in Rhode Island. It requires these companies to register with the Department of Business Regulation, post a $50,000 bond, and follow strict rules including no referral fees to lawyers, no misleading advertising, and no interference with consumers' legal decisions. The law protects people who receive lawsuit funding (consumers), their lawyers, and medical providers by prohibiting financiers from reporting unpaid debts to credit bureaus or taking control of case strategy. Key provisions ensure consumers retain full control over their legal claims and settlements. This directly affects anyone using third-party lawsuit funding in Rhode Island, adding oversight to a growing industry.

Creates a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low-barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services.

Requires that Medicaid enrollment be maintained or provided to all inmates in the first 30 days of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions within the department of corrections and the last 30 days of incarceration when possible.

Maddy summarySB 2351 amends Rhode Island's Energy Facility Siting Act by removing "clean coal technology" from the list of fuel types that receive priority in the state's energy facility siting process. Specifically, it revises Section 42-98-2(8)(i) to eliminate the provision that previously gave priority to projects using coal processed via clean coal technology, while maintaining priority for renewable fuels and natural gas. This change affects how the state's energy facilities siting board evaluates and approves major energy projects, particularly those proposing clean coal as a primary fuel source. The bill would take effect upon passage, altering the criteria used in siting decisions without banning clean coal use.

Maddy summarySB 2353 prohibits force-feeding poultry (such as ducks or geese) to produce products like foie gras and bans the sale of such force-fed poultry products or food containing them within Rhode Island. It directly affects producers of force-fed poultry products and businesses selling them, including restaurants listing "foie gras" on menus. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that any item labeled or listed as "foie gras" is a force-fed product, requiring sellers to prove otherwise with documentation. Violations carry a $500 civil penalty per offense, with enforcement handled by local authorities or the state health department, effective January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis resolution appropriates $2,000,000 from the state treasury for the Elisha Project, a Pawtucket-based nonprofit serving food-insecure families across Rhode Island, particularly in the Blackstone Valley. The funding supports the organization's existing operations, including providing meals and necessities to vulnerable communities, with specific programs for children, veterans, and families. The Elisha Project has previously served over 20 million meals, and this resolution authorizes the state controller to disburse the funds upon verified requests. It directly affects the Elisha Project's ability to expand services as food insecurity needs grow, without creating new policy or altering existing programs.

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 summarySB 2152 requires all public bodies (such as city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to provide translation services for every open meeting they hold. This bill directly affects non-English speaking residents who attend or wish to participate in these public proceedings. The key provision mandates that translation services must be offered for all meetings, not just specific ones, to ensure accessibility. The bill was introduced on January 16, 2026, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.

Prohibits a landlord from inquiring about the immigration status of a tenant subject to any federal laws or regulations, but may request financial information or proof of identity.