Sen. John Burke

Maddy summarySB 83 removes an existing rule that allowed certain lenders to operate without a license if they made fewer than six loans within a twelve-month period. This change means that any person or entity making loans, regardless of volume below six per year, will now be required to obtain a lender's license. The bill amends Section 19-14.1-10 of the General Laws, affecting those who lend money in the state.

Maddy summarySB 947 increases the penalties for drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents that result in injury, serious bodily injury, or death. The bill specifically raises the terms for imprisonment, fines, and license revocation for drivers who knowingly fail to stop after such accidents. It establishes stricter penalties based on the severity of the outcome and whether it's a first or subsequent offense. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for "driving so as to endanger" offenses that cause death or serious bodily injury, and these provisions apply to accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists.

Maddy summarySB 449 mandates a re-amortization of the state pension fund, beginning with fiscal year 2026. This means the state will recalculate the payment schedule for its pension fund's outstanding liabilities. The change directly affects the determination of the employer contribution rate paid by the State of Rhode Island into the retirement system for public officers and employees. It amends the section of law that outlines the actuarial cost method used for these contributions and benefits.

Requires that the license plates of a vehicle be confiscated by a police officer if the owner was arrested for driving while their license was suspended, revoked or cancelled for refusing to submit to a chemical test or for operating under the influence.

Requires that present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance receive a $2,000 increase per year.

Requires persons convicted of driving under influence or refusal to submit to chemical test, to have an ignition interlock system installed in vehicle as part of sentence and to pay an assessment to pay for the systems for indigent defendants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing law on inclusionary zoning, requiring towns and cities to ensure some developments include affordable housing. It mandates that developments exceeding ten dwelling units must allocate at least fifteen percent (15%) of their units as affordable housing, which must be comparable to market-rate units and remain affordable for at least thirty years. Municipalities can allow developers to meet this requirement through on-site construction, off-site building, land donation, or by paying a fee-in-lieu. The bill also provides a density bonus for on-site affordable housing and specifies how fee-in-lieu payments are calculated, used, and overseen by local authorities or transferred to the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation (RIHMFC).

Municipalities required to amend zoning ordinances, to include special listed provisions, to authorize development incentives to increase development density or dimensional flexibility, identify provisions to promote and regulate commercial developments.

Amends the section of law relative to violations for driving after denial, revocation or suspension of a license and expands the list of offenses for which an unlicensed motorist would be in violation.

Establishes and funds the SafeRIde program, which provides transportation, free of charge, to persons suspected of having a blood alcohol concentration that prohibits legal operation of a vehicle.