Sen. Lori Urso

Creates a 17-member Commission to study Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce related to educating and retaining primary care providers and who would report back annually to the President of the Senate.

Maddy summarySB 2448 creates a dedicated performance audit division within Rhode Island's Office of the Auditor General (OAG). This division will evaluate how efficiently and effectively state agencies and contractors using public funds operate, focusing on program outcomes rather than financial transactions. The bill requires the OAG to hire at least five full-time staff for this work, develop annual audit plans prioritizing high-impact areas like Medicaid and IT systems, and publish public reports starting in 2027. State agencies must then submit corrective action plans within 60 days of receiving audit findings, with the OAG monitoring compliance and reporting to lawmakers.

Requires as part of the director of administration’s report to the general assembly to include information on the number of hybrid, combustion engine, plug-in hybrid, and ZEV vehicles in the light duty fleet. This act would take effect upon passage.

Creates an intervenor compensation program to provide compensation in the form of grants for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs to an intervenor in both, energy siting board and public utilities commission proceedings.

Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

Requires applications for energy facilities to take into consideration the 2021 Act on Climate and how the facility may advance or delay the greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates May 2026 as Brain Tumor Awareness Month in Rhode Island to highlight the challenges and impacts of brain tumors. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies of the resolution to leaders of four major brain tumor organizations, including the American Brain Tumor Association and the Rhode Island Brain & Spine Tumor Foundation. By doing so, the state aims to increase public understanding of the disease and support ongoing research efforts.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month in Rhode Island to highlight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive and currently incurable disease. The bill aims to educate the public about the condition and show support for patients, their families, and researchers working toward a cure. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to ALS United RI, a local organization that advocates for people living with the disease.

Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.

Provides that in local education agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines, then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.