Sen. Lori Urso

Maddy summarySB 875 would shorten the waiting period to clear criminal records (expungement) for certain convictions. People with a single misdemeanor could expunge records after 3 years (down from 5), and those with felonies or multiple misdemeanors after 5 years (down from 10). The bill applies to individuals who have completed their sentences and paid all court fees, but excludes convictions for violent crimes or specific drug offenses listed in the law. It would take effect immediately upon passage.

Substitutes "housing resources commission" with "department of health" for lead hazard mitigation purposes. It also makes it easier for a property owner to release funds put into an escrow account, if needed to make required repairs or improvements.

Requires landlords of residential properties built before 1978 to register lead hazard mitigation information with the department of health and the information would be private and only accessible by specific entities.

Maddy summarySB 288 limits re-election for key state executive positions by prohibiting any person from being elected to the same general office (governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, or treasurer) more than twice. It also restricts individuals who served over two years of another person's term to only one additional election to that office. The bill further states that someone ineligible to run for governor cannot be elected lieutenant governor. These changes would apply immediately upon the bill's passage, affecting how state officers serve and seek re-election.

Requires EOHHS to develop a budget and seek funding to establish an early childhood mental health hub program to improve access to infant and early childhood mental health services for children under six (6) years and their families.

Maddy summarySB 751 amends existing law to explicitly include COVID-19 in the definition of "infectious disease" for first responders. This change ensures that firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who are exposed to COVID-19 while on duty can access the same occupational disability benefits as for other covered diseases like HIV or hepatitis. The bill updates definitions in the law (specifically in sections 23-28.36-1, 23-28.36-2, and 23-28.36-4) to clarify that exposure to COVID-19 qualifies for notification and disability benefits under the existing framework. It does not create new procedures but ensures current protections apply to COVID-19 cases.

Creates the Rhode Island Childcare Assistance Program that governs both family eligibility for the state’s childcare subsidy program and expands eligibility for the program to meet the federal eligibility benchmark.

Creates a shellfish hatchery program established by the department of environmental management to foster sustainable development and resiliency of the state's shellfish industry.

Maddy summarySB 642 establishes a $0.15 fee per 10,000 gallons of wastewater effluent discharged by treatment facilities across Rhode Island. This fee applies to all wastewater treatment facilities (not individual households) and begins July 1, 2025. Revenue from the fee will fund the Bays, Rivers and Watersheds Fund, which supports environmental projects like watershed management, marine monitoring, and climate resilience initiatives. The bill expands the fund's revenue sources beyond previous septage-specific fees to include wastewater disposal.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 880) passed by the Rhode Island Senate to mark March 25, 2025, as the 204th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. It symbolically celebrates Greece's historical struggle for democracy and the longstanding US-Greece alliance, referencing shared values like freedom and religious tolerance. The resolution urges Turkey to respect religious freedoms and commends Rhode Island's Greek-American community for its cultural contributions. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups, as it is a ceremonial gesture by the state Senate.