Sen. Tiara Mack

Maddy summarySB 176 establishes the "Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities Act." This bill allows students aged 18-21 (or up to 22) with severe intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or other severe developmental disabilities, who receive special education services, to attend state colleges and universities. These students are not required to meet standard college admission criteria like entrance exams or a high school diploma. The act aims to provide inclusive educational opportunities, including participation in courses and development of employment and independent living skills, with costs covered as part of their special education services.

Increases the state earned-income credit as of January 1, 2026 to seventeen percent (17%) of the federal earned-income credit, not to exceed the amount of state income tax.

Maddy summarySB 639, known as "The School Libraries Act," establishes new requirements for public schools across the state. It mandates that every public school must have a permanent, dedicated school library equipped with an adequate collection, technology, and budget. The bill also requires all public schools to employ certified school librarians, with specific staffing levels (full-time for schools with 250+ students, half-time for smaller schools) to be phased in by the 2030-2031 school year. This legislation aims to ensure students in all public schools have daily access to these libraries and their resources.

Maddy summarySR 965 is a symbolic Senate resolution commemorating "Black Maternal Health Week" (April 11-17, 2025) in Rhode Island. It recognizes the disproportionate maternal health disparities faced by Black women and birthing people, citing statistics on higher rates of complications and mortality linked to systemic inequities. The resolution urges Rhode Islanders to advocate for policies addressing racism and bias in maternal care, without creating new laws or funding. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. This procedural resolution raises awareness but does not enact policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate resolution (SR 967), not a bill with policy changes. It expresses the Rhode Island Senate's condolences to families who lost loved ones in the April 8, 2025, building collapse at the Jet Set Club in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which killed 184 people. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy to the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of Rhode Island (DIHACRI). It has no legislative effect or funding provisions, solely serving as a formal expression of sympathy.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Senate resolution (SR 966), not a bill with policy changes. It expresses the Rhode Island Senate's formal support for the LGBTQIA+ community through a resolution passed on April 10, 2025. The resolution states the Senate's solidarity with the community, acknowledges ongoing challenges like discrimination and violence, and affirms the state's commitment to protecting civil rights. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect individuals or policies; it is a declarative statement directed to the Governor via the Secretary of State.

Maddy summarySB 478 amends licensing rules for midwives to expand their prescribing authority for specific medications related to maternal and infant health. Certified midwives (CNMs/CMs) would be permitted to prescribe up to 51 listed medications - including antibiotics for infections, medications for hemorrhage, prenatal vitamins, vaccines, and pain management - under oversight by the Department of Health. This directly affects licensed midwives and their patients by allowing midwives to address common health needs during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum without requiring physician referrals for these specific treatments. The bill does not change midwives' scope for complex medical conditions but formalizes existing practices for routine care. It is pending further committee review after a recent recommendation to hold it for additional study.

Reduces penalties for non-violent drug offenses and provide for terms of imprisonment of not more than 10 years for any drug offense and would repeal certain other offenses.

Maddy summarySB 100 eliminates the sunset date for child care assistance for eligible child care educators and staff working at least 20 hours weekly in licensed facilities. This permanent change (previously set to expire July 2025) ensures ongoing funding for these workers to access child care while they work, directly affecting early childhood educators and staff providing services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The bill requires the department to provide this assistance without time limits, maintaining the same eligibility criteria as current programs. This policy change specifically modifies Section (k) of the Rhode Island Works Program, making a temporary provision permanent for affected child care professionals.

Directs the DHS and the department of education to work collaboratively to sustain and strengthen existing workforce development and compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs statewide.