Rep. Megan Cotter

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that congratulates Thawn Sherenté Harris on finishing the 2026 Boston Marathon and honors the legacy of his great-uncle, Ellison "Tarzan" Brown. The document recognizes Harris's achievement as a ceremonial act to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Brown's first marathon victory and highlights his specific performance details, such as running barefoot to mimic Brown's historic run. By transmitting a certified copy of this resolution to Harris, the bill formally acknowledges his perseverance and cultural significance without altering any laws or policies.

Amends current law so that private side lead service replacement costs, financed by the water supplier's customers that may be eligible for reimbursement from the state, would no longer be subject to appropriation by the general assembly.

Enacts the RI individual market affordability act of 2026 to establish a program to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for low- and moderate-income consumers enrolled in individual health insurance coverage through the RI health benefits exchange.

Maddy summaryHB 7697 exempts prescribed scalp hair prosthetics and wigs from sales tax when medically necessary to treat hair loss from a health condition. This directly affects individuals with medical conditions like alopecia or cancer treatment side effects who require these items. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly include "prosthetic devices" (defined as items necessary for medical treatment) under existing sales tax exemptions, alongside items like durable medical equipment. The policy change applies only to sales tax on qualifying products purchased by consumers.

Increases the income range up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and tax credit up to eight hundred fifty dollars ($850), for elderly and disabled persons who own or rent their homes.

Maddy summaryHB 8192 imposes a 2% tax on the portion of a private college's endowment exceeding $1 billion. It directly affects private institutions of higher education with endowments over $1 billion, requiring them to pay this tax on the amount above that threshold. The bill's key provision is the specific tax rate applied to the excess value, creating a new revenue source for the state. Introduced on February 27, 2026, it is currently under review by the House Finance committee.

Maddy summaryHB 7058 exempts scalp hair prostheses and wigs necessary due to medical conditions from the state's sales tax. This directly affects individuals experiencing hair loss from medical issues, such as cancer treatment or alopecia, who purchase these items. The bill amends tax code sections to explicitly include these prosthetic devices under existing medical exemptions, removing the sales tax burden. This is a concrete policy change that simplifies access to medically necessary hair replacement products without altering broader tax structures.

Maddy summaryHB 7313 creates a new 3% tax rate on Rhode Island taxable income exceeding $640,000 (adjusted for inflation in 2026 dollars) for tax years beginning in 2027 and later. This applies specifically to high-income earners, including individuals, estates, and trusts with annual income above this threshold. The bill amends existing tax code to add this rate to the current progressive brackets, which already include rates up to 9.9% for income over $349,700. It does not affect past tax years and will be adjusted for inflation annually as required by law.

Expands the patient-centered medical home program to all Medicaid-accepting independent primary care practices and nurse practitioners and increases reimbursement rates to match Massachusetts and Connecticut rates.

Requires the EOHHS to amend the state Medicaid plan and secure sufficient state general revenue to increase Medicaid payment rates to an amount equal to one hundred thirty percent (130%) of Medicare rates for outpatient clinical pediatric services.