Sen. Tiara Mack

Exempts from the sales tax eligible school supplies, costing less than $30.00, purchased within one week prior to the commencement of the academic year.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.

Allows for a tenant to withhold payment of rent, and deposit the rent accruing into an escrow bearing account, upon the issuance of a second notice of violation by an enforcing officer for any state or local minimum housing code enforcement agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "Bed Bugs in Residential Premises Act," establishes clear responsibilities for both landlords and tenants regarding bed bug infestations. Tenants are required to promptly notify their landlord of suspected bed bugs, prompting the landlord to arrange for an inspection by a pest control agent within 96 hours. If bed bugs are confirmed, the landlord must commence treatment within five business days, covering the costs for inspection and treatment in the affected and contiguous dwelling units. Tenants must allow access for inspection and treatment and are responsible for costs associated with preparing their unit. The bill also prohibits landlords from renting out units they know or reasonably suspect to contain bed bugs.

Maddy summarySB 271 prohibits health benefit plans from requiring or conducting prospective or concurrent utilization reviews for certain prescription medications used to treat alcohol or opioid use disorder. This applies to medicines containing Methadone, Buprenorphine, or Naltrexone, or those FDA-approved for opioid withdrawal symptoms. The bill directly affects individuals seeking these treatments and the health insurers providing their plans. Additionally, it requires Medicaid managed care organizations to use specific medical necessity criteria for their utilization reviews, as selected by the executive office of health and human services. This act takes effect upon passage.

Provides that the prescription label for medication abortion prescription drugs shall include the name of the dispensing health care practice instead of the name of the dispenser.

Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 1064 congratulates the Brown University Women's Rugby Team for winning the Women's Rugby College National Championship for the third consecutive year. It also directs the Secretary of State to transmit a copy of the resolution to the team's Head Coach, Rosalind Chou.

Exempts certain urban and small farmers from sales taxes, real, tangible and personal property taxes and income taxes. Also defines urban and small farmers and urban farmland.

Establishes requirements which would have to be met by an applicant prior to the issuing of permits for an activity that would have an environmental impact on or would increase the cumulative impacts on an environmental justice area.