Sen. Tiara Mack

Maddy summarySB 121 requires Rhode Island's health insurance commissioner to produce a report by January 1, 2026, examining how health insurance plans handle prior authorization for prescription drugs. The report will analyze insurers' processes for approving or denying coverage of medications before they are dispensed. This directly affects health insurers, the commissioner, and patients who rely on prescription medications. The goal is to increase transparency around drug access and inform future policy decisions without advocating for specific changes.

Maddy summarySB 326 establishes the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2025, requiring large fossil fuel corporations (defined as entities responsible for over one billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2024) to pay for climate change response work already funded by the state and municipalities. The bill mandates the Department of Environmental Management to calculate each company's share based on emissions data and issue payment demands for costs incurred since 2009, including projects like coastal protection, infrastructure upgrades, and emergency planning. Funds collected will be deposited into a dedicated account and used solely for future climate adaptation efforts. This directly affects major fossil fuel companies that contributed significantly to climate change, shifting costs from taxpayers to those most responsible.

Requires every public school in Rhode Island to have a school library or library media center in a permanent and dedicated space available to students in grades K-12 with a librarian available.

Allows a minor between the ages of 14 - 17 without a permanent residence/in custody of the DCYF to get state identification card without a signature from parent, guardian or foster parent as well as a certified copy of minor's birth certificate at no cost

Maddy summarySB 465 prohibits life insurance companies licensed in the state from denying coverage or excluding benefits due to a person’s preexisting medical conditions or prior insurance denials. It directly affects residents seeking life insurance policies within the state, ensuring they cannot be refused coverage based on health history. The bill voids any preexisting condition exclusion language in applications, binders, or policies, making such terms unenforceable. This policy change would take effect immediately upon passage, requiring insurers to offer coverage without these restrictions.

Creates the Rhode Island Individual Market Affordability Act of 2024 to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for low- and moderate-income consumers enrolled in the health insurance coverage through the Rhode Island health benefits exchange.

Establishes a single-payer health care insurance system, consolidating public and private payments into a more efficient Medicare-for-all style program, funded by progressive taxes, to reduce health care costs.

Limits copays, coinsurance or office deductibles for services of a physical therapist to the amount authorized for the services of a primary care physician or osteopath on or after January 1, 2026.

Commences July 1, 2025, this act would eliminate the provision of this section that requires new applicants for employment under this section to pay the expense for their criminal background checks.

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth, 12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.