Sen. John Burke

Maddy summarySB 565 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting second-degree sexual assault from the standard three years to ten years. This change directly affects cases involving second-degree sexual assault, allowing prosecutors more time to file charges. The bill amends Section 12-12-17(b) of the General Laws to explicitly include second-degree sexual assault in the list of offenses with a ten-year time limit for prosecution. It does not alter the statute of limitations for other crimes or offenses.

Removes the requirement that families consent to, and cooperate with the department of human services in establishing paternity and enforcing child and medical support orders as a condition of eligibility for child care assistance.

Authorizes municipalities to make an emergency declaration under limited circumstances to allow for the construction and use of SAVE Units on a temporary basis which have specialized requirements and exemptions from the state fire and building codes.

Provides certain controls over prescription drug costs by imposing transparency, oversight and accountability requirements on commercial insurers and their pharmacy benefit managers.

Amends several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers.

Maddy summarySB 521 establishes a clear process for filling vacancies in municipal election boards (called "local canvassing authorities") in Rhode Island cities and towns. It requires political party chairpersons to submit lists of eligible voters within 30 days of a vacancy, and mandates that mayors or council presidents nominate replacements from those lists within another 30 days. The bill also clarifies that board members serve staggered six-year terms expiring on March 1 in odd-numbered years, and directs city/town clerks to correct any term date errors immediately. This affects local election offices directly by ensuring consistent staffing for handling election results and voter registration.

Maddy summarySR 820 proposes a constitutional amendment to change voting eligibility rules in Rhode Island. It would remove the current 30-day state and local residency requirement for voting, instead requiring voters to be registered by election day. The amendment also maintains a 30-day residency requirement for candidates seeking office. This change would directly affect all eligible voters and candidates for state offices in Rhode Island, altering how residency and registration are handled under the state constitution.

Maddy summarySB 207 updates the legal terminology in a state law prohibiting child sexual abuse material by replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse material" throughout the statute. The bill does not change the legal definitions, penalties, or prohibited activities - such as producing, distributing, or possessing such material - or the affirmative defenses available to defendants. It specifically clarifies that the law covers visual depictions of minors in sexually explicit conduct, with penalties remaining unchanged (up to 15 years in prison for production/distribution, up to 5 years for possession). The bill focuses solely on terminology to align with current legal and advocacy standards, without altering any policy or enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 358 creates a new legal right for people injured by artificial intelligence systems developed by companies that trained or fine-tuned very high-cost AI models (costing over $100 million for initial training or $10 million for significant modifications). It holds developers strictly liable for injuries to non-users (like bystanders) caused by AI systems that behave in ways a human would consider negligent or intentionally harmful, without requiring proof of developer negligence. The bill excludes defamation claims and establishes a rebuttable presumption that AI systems meet the mental state required for certain torts if a human in similar circumstances would have acted that way. Developers can avoid liability by proving the AI met human standards of care or the harm resulted from a "capabilities failure" (where the AI underperformed but didn't act negligently).

Maddy summarySB 548 requires municipalities to license existing unlicensed adult sex venues, creating a new "Class S" license for facilities allowing patrons to bring or consume alcohol on-site. This license mandates annual fees ($100-$2,000), restricts operating hours (12 p.m.-2 a.m., no alcohol after 1 a.m.), and prohibits dances without additional permits. The bill also directs the Department of Health to establish health and safety standards by 2026, including STI prevention measures (free condoms/lubricant if intercourse occurs), signage for health services, and protocols to ensure consent and reduce trafficking risks. It directly affects current adult sex venues operating without licenses, requiring them to comply with new licensing rules and health regulations to continue operating.