Sen. Tiara Mack

Creates the multi-unit residential decarbonization initiative program to provide funding for feasibility studies to convert large, multi-family residential units to non-emitting renewable geothermal energy.

Requires certain health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, subject to certain restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 2705 requires towns and cities to mandate that affordable housing units be included in certain new residential developments. It directly affects local governments, which must update zoning ordinances, and developers building qualifying projects. The key provision is that developers must provide a specified percentage of affordable units in eligible new construction, without requiring additional subsidies. The bill is still in early stages, having been introduced to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government committee on February 27, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires schools to report the names and reasons for termination of non-teacher employees who are fired for misconduct to the state Department of Education. The department would maintain a confidential list accessible only to hiring authorities for other schools, helping them avoid hiring individuals with documented termination records. The law excludes contract nonrenewals and terminations due to budget cuts or reorganization from this reporting requirement.

Maddy summarySB 2526 terminates the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's extension of the Providence Public Schools (PPSD) turnaround plan, which had been set to continue until October 2027. This bill directly affects Providence Public Schools by ending their current oversight structure under the state's student investment initiative. The key provision nullifies the specific administrative extension issued on August 29, 2024, making it "null and void and terminated." The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, ending the extended oversight period for PPSD. This is a procedural bill that modifies an existing administrative action rather than creating new educational policy.

Maddy summarySB 2629 changes the name of the second Monday in August from "Victory Day" to "Peace and Remembrance Day" in Rhode Island's state holiday schedule. This affects state employees who observe the holiday, as the bill amends the official list of holidays in the General Laws. The bill repeals a prior section that prohibited referring to this day by any name other than "Victory Day." It takes effect upon passage and makes no other changes to holiday observances or policies. The change is purely semantic, updating the holiday's name without altering its date or associated observances.

Maddy summarySB 2464 requires Rhode Island's health insurance commissioner to produce annual reports on insurer practices, including fee schedules, provider credentialing processes, and data disclosure methods for healthcare facilities. The bill mandates that a professional-provider-health-plan work group (part of an advisory council) compile specific data to help consumers compare quality and costs of care. These reports, due by January 1, 2027, will cover topics like insurance dispute resolution, real-time enrollment verification, and the impact of "silent PPOs" on providers. The legislation directly affects health insurers, medical providers, and consumers by increasing transparency in health insurance operations and pricing.

Maddy summarySB 2567 establishes a universal single-payer healthcare system called "RICare" for all Rhode Island residents, replacing the current multi-insurer model with a publicly administered system funded through state taxes. It aims to guarantee universal access to primary and preventive care while reducing administrative costs and medical debt by consolidating payments into one system. Key provisions include creating a RICare Board, defining healthcare terms, and requiring coordination with state agencies to implement the system after securing federal approval. The bill is currently in early stages (introduced February 2026, referred to Senate Health Committee) and does not specify funding details or timelines for full implementation.

Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.