Sen. John Burke

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes definitions and a regulatory framework for public-private partnerships in state procurement, allowing state agencies to enter into long-term contracts with private entities for developing, financing, constructing, or maintaining public assets. The legislation requires agencies to conduct value-for-money analyses comparing partnership options against traditional methods and mandates competitive procurement processes with detailed evaluation criteria. Key provisions include requirements for prevailing wages, labor harmony plans, oversight responsibilities, and a study on project labor agreements for contracts exceeding $25 million, while maintaining state accountability for delegated functions.

Allows a police officer to be reemployed by a state agency or department for purposes of working a state-funded detail subject to certain restrictions.

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for crime victim compensation by allowing individuals who suffer serious bodily injury from hit-and-run incidents to apply for financial assistance through the state's compensation program. The amendment adds a specific provision to the existing list of qualifying offenses, ensuring that drivers who fail to stop after a collision resulting in serious injury or death are included in the categories eligible for compensation. The change directly affects victims of hit-and-run accidents who previously might not have qualified for aid under the current law, providing them with a potential source of financial support for medical and related expenses. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage without requiring additional legislative steps.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Rhode Island's state education department and high school sports league to create a statewide anti-hazing policy for student athletics. It mandates clear definitions of hazing, zero-tolerance sanctions (including team suspensions or season cancellations), and education components to prevent hazing. All schools in the state participating in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League must follow this policy, which also requires student-athletes to sign an acknowledgment of the rules before joining teams. The policy explicitly states that consent is never a defense for hazing and ensures consistent discipline across all schools. The bill takes effect upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 2453 allows cities and towns to create programs waiving interest on overdue property taxes for commercial properties. To qualify, taxpayers must own the commercial property for five years, provide written proof of timely tax payments for five years, and request the waiver within two years of the overdue bill. The waiver is capped at $500 per request, and local tax collectors must issue written decisions with appeal options to city councils. This bill enables local governments to adopt ordinances implementing this relief, directly affecting commercial property owners who fall behind on quarterly tax payments.

Incorporates cable, broadband, Internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines and authorizes municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 2491 changes the date for selecting delegates to national political conventions and presidential preference primaries from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March, starting in 2028. This affects voters in this state who participate in presidential primaries and the state election administration. The bill specifically amends the law to set the new date for 2028 and all subsequent presidential election years, while keeping the 2024 primary on April 2, 2024. The change takes effect upon passage and does not alter other primary procedures.

Amends the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and eliminates the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low or moderate income housing.

Maddy summarySB 2735 amends the process for creating and governing project labor agreements (PLAs) used in state public construction projects. It directly affects state contractors and labor unions working on public property and infrastructure projects by changing how these agreements are established and managed. The bill modifies the procedures for developing PLAs, which set wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers on state-funded construction sites. This change aims to streamline the PLA process for state projects without altering the core requirements of the agreements themselves. The bill was introduced to the Senate Labor and Gaming committee on February 27, 2026.