Redefines "Political Party" and defines and distinguishes between "major parties" and "minor parties" based on the total number of votes a party's candidate received in the previous election among other factors.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would remove the 30-day state and local residency requirement for voting, instead requiring voters to be registered by election day. It would maintain a 30-day residency requirement for candidates seeking office but eliminate the prior 30-day voter registration deadline. The amendment would directly affect all voters and candidates in Rhode Island by changing eligibility rules for elections. If approved by voters, it would replace the current voting and candidacy provisions in the state constitution, effective January 1, 2027.
Amends several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers.
Requires that Medicaid enrollment be maintained or provided to all inmates in the first 30 days of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions within the department of corrections and the last 30 days of incarceration when possible.
Maddy summarySB 2544 suspends the 4% gross earnings tax on electric utility companies and the 3% tax on gas utility companies until January 1, 2036. This directly affects electric and gas utility corporations operating in the state by removing these tax obligations for nearly a decade. The bill amends tax code provisions to halt these specific tax rates, which would otherwise apply to their gross earnings from electricity and gas services. The suspension begins January 1, 2027, and remains in effect through 2035.
Requires written consent by recipient or parent before vaccine and prohibits discrimination against those who don't vaccinate and fines up to $25,000 for violation. Also prohibits DCYF from investigating their for failure to vaccinate their child.
Exempts a single-family, primary residence, owned by a taxpayer, who is at least sixty-five (65) years old, and has been a Rhode Island resident for at least forty (40) years. It also excludes multi-family and income-producing properties.
Maddy summarySB 2366 amends Rhode Island's personal income tax code to modify how tuition savings program contributions are treated for tax purposes. It allows taxpayers to subtract up to $500 ($1,000 for joint returns) annually from federal adjusted gross income for contributions made to Rhode Island's tuition savings program, with specific restrictions on what qualifies as a deductible contribution. This affects residents using the tuition savings program who claim tax deductions for contributions. The bill also clarifies rules for nonqualified withdrawals from these accounts and their tax treatment. The changes apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2353 prohibits force-feeding poultry (such as ducks or geese) to produce products like foie gras and bans the sale of such force-fed poultry products or food containing them within Rhode Island. It directly affects producers of force-fed poultry products and businesses selling them, including restaurants listing "foie gras" on menus. The bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that any item labeled or listed as "foie gras" is a force-fed product, requiring sellers to prove otherwise with documentation. Violations carry a $500 civil penalty per offense, with enforcement handled by local authorities or the state health department, effective January 1, 2027.
Adds probation officers and parole officers to the definition of "police officer" for purposes of salary payments during line of duty illness or injury.
