Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.
Maddy summaryHB 7865 creates the "Strengthen Rhody Homes" program to help Rhode Island homeowners retrofit or build primary residences to better withstand hurricanes and catastrophic weather using federal or other grant funds (not state funds). The program targets owner-occupied single-family homes (excluding condos or mobile homes) that meet specific criteria, including having wind insurance, being in good repair, and following Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) standards for storm resilience. Homeowners must secure pre-qualification from an IBHS-certified evaluator, hire three approved contractors, and complete work to IBHS standards before grants are paid directly to contractors. Administered by the state’s insurance division, the program does not obligate the state to fund projects and requires random inspections to prevent fraud.
Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.
Maddy summaryHB 7683 increases the minimum monthly death benefits for spouses, domestic partners, and former spouses of deceased teachers. The bill raises the lowest benefit tier from $825 to $1,025 per month for those with a deceased member's salary of $17,000 or less, with proportional increases across all salary brackets. It applies to individuals who were living with the deceased teacher at death or receiving support, and who meet age and remarriage requirements. Benefits will adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living changes. The bill takes effect upon passage.
Extends certain protocols applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, as well as updates warranty reimbursement and recalls obligation policies.
Maddy summaryHB 7576 makes traffic accident data a public record under state law, meaning anyone can request this information through standard public records procedures. However, the bill explicitly states that this data cannot be used for purposes prohibited by federal law (23 U.S.C. § 407), such as in certain damage lawsuits. Public agencies providing this data must include written notice about these federal usage restrictions when releasing the records. This change directly affects residents seeking traffic accident information and public agencies managing such records.
Strengthens school security measures, including the establishment of a RI school emergency response committee to develop additional recommendations for school security measures and requiring an annual school safety assessment by all school districts.
Maddy summaryHB 7859 updates certain sections of the state's insurance law to remove outdated provisions affecting domestic insurance companies. The bill focuses on modernizing the legal language of insurance regulations without creating new requirements or directly impacting specific policyholders. It was introduced to the House Corporations committee on February 27, 2026, and currently remains in the referral stage. This is a procedural update to administrative code, not a substantive policy change.
Creates a program through which fire departments and fire districts are notified of locations of registrants of electric and hybrid motor vehicles can register their vehicles with their local fire department or fire district.
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.
