Amends the current law in order that a health insurer would not require a physician, to participate in "capitation," or any other "alternative payment model" that creates a financial incentive for a physician to limit medically necessary care.
Establishes, encourages and supports the establishment of family councils and resident councils in managed residential communities providing assisted living services.
Maddy summarySB 310 amends the state's minimum wage law to set annual increases for covered workers. It establishes a minimum wage of $16 per hour starting January 1, 2026, rising to $17 in 2027, $18 in 2028, $19 in 2029, and $20 in 2030. The bill directly affects all employers subject to the state's minimum wage requirements, including businesses in retail, hospitality, and other sectors employing hourly workers. This amendment updates the existing wage schedule without altering current enforcement mechanisms or exemptions.
Maddy summarySB 215 increases the minimum cash wage for tipped workers (like restaurant servers) from $3.89 to $6.75 per hour, effective January 1, 2026. It directly affects employees in restaurants, hotels, and similar service industries who rely on tips as part of their income, excluding taxicab drivers. The bill sets a new hourly cash wage floor that employers must pay, ensuring tipped workers earn at least $6.75/hour without relying on tip deductions. This change follows a phased increase schedule, raising the current $3.89 floor by $2.86 over time. The law applies to all qualifying employers in these industries and takes effect upon passage.
Establishes a revolving fund to assist first-time home buyers and veterans to purchase a home in Rhode Island by issuing grants of up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
Maddy summarySB 54 prohibits Rhode Island health insurance providers from requiring prior approval (preauthorization) for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services. This directly affects insurers and patients seeking these specific treatments, ensuring they can access care without waiting for insurance approval. The bill amends existing law to align mental health/substance use coverage with medical care parity, building on an existing 2018 agreement by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island. It does not change coverage for other medical conditions or out-of-network services.
Maddy summarySB 193 requires health insurance plans (including group plans and individual policies) to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment on the same terms as physical health care. Key provisions include banning annual or lifetime dollar limits, ensuring cost-sharing (like copays) matches primary care, and prohibiting stricter restrictions (such as prior authorizations) for mental health services. The bill mandates insurers to use established clinical standards - like those from the American Society of Addiction Medicine - to determine coverage levels. This directly affects all insured individuals seeking mental health or addiction treatment, ensuring parity in coverage with medical conditions.
Allows a municipality to set its own conveyance tax rate for residential properties sold in excess of $900,000.00 at $10 per $500. Provides collected taxes to be in a restricted account and distributed within 2 years for affordable housing.
Maddy summarySB 63 clarifies the legal definitions of criminal offense categories in the state's law. It specifies that a felony is any offense punishable by more than one year in prison or a fine over $1,000; a misdemeanor is punishable by 6 months to 364 days in prison or a fine up to $1,000; and a petty misdemeanor is punishable by up to 6 months in prison or a fine up to $500. The bill also explicitly states that any reference to "one year" in legal texts should be interpreted as 364 days. This change directly affects all criminal cases classified under these categories, ensuring consistent application of penalties. The bill takes effect upon passage.
Exempts from taxation the non-commercial real and tangible personal property of Southside Community Land Trust, a Rhode Island domestic nonprofit corporation, located in Providence, Rhode Island.
