Rep. Bob Phillips

Extends the reporting/expiration dates of the special legislative commission to study/review the cost and status of the State of RI owned, vacant, and abandoned properties and provide recommendations for methods to mitigate the associated expenses.

Requires any licensed lab performing blood lead analyses of a child under 6 to be certified by the director and said laboratory must perform this test regardless of the child or child’s parent’s ability to pay and at no cost.

Expands the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run to maintain on site a functional AED while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools.

Establishes the Rhode Island education funding and accountability act, which would include a totally revised and revamped formula for funding all levels of public education in Rhode Island.

Authorizes the administration of the division of motor vehicles to make available special license plates for the Rhode Island Manufacture Association.

Maddy summaryHB 7702 modifies Rhode Island's personal income tax calculation by adding back certain federal tax exclusions to residents' adjusted gross income. It specifically requires adding nonqualified withdrawals from tuition savings programs (e.g., withdrawals not used for education costs) and federal PPP loan forgiveness exceeding $250,000. The bill also allows a deduction of up to $500 ($1,000 for joint filers) for contributions to Rhode Island's tuition savings program, subject to limits like excluding rollovers or non-participant contributions. This directly affects residents using tuition savings accounts or receiving federal stimulus funds, altering their taxable income for state tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 8581 amends the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act to remove a cap that previously limited how much local funding for charter schools could be reduced starting in fiscal year 2026. Under the current law, local districts pay charter schools a reduced per-pupil amount, but this bill would eliminate the restriction that keeps that reduction at no more than 14%. The legislation directly affects local school districts and charter public schools, including specific career and technical centers, by altering the calculation of local financial contributions. If passed, the change would allow local districts to apply a larger reduction to the per-pupil funding they provide to these schools, though the specific reduction formula remains unchanged.

Increase the estate exemption to $5,000,000 for January 1, 2027, $7,500,000 for January 1, 2029, $10,000,000 for January 1, 2031. This act would eliminate the estate tax for decedents whose death occurs on or after January 1, 2033.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2026 as 'ALS Awareness Month' in Rhode Island to highlight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive disease that affects muscle control and has no cure. The resolution aims to encourage state residents to learn about ALS and support those living with the condition, as well as researchers working toward a treatment. It directs the Secretary of State to send a certified copy of the resolution to ALS United RI, the state's local chapter of the national ALS Association.

Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $500,000 to Sojourner House to support its permanent housing development program that provides safe, secure housing to individuals and families fleeing from dangerous situations.