Sen. Bob Britto

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts mortgage prepayment penalty rules to loans on owner-occupied properties with one to four dwelling units. Under the new provisions, lenders must allow full prepayment after one year without penalty, and any prepayment fees during the first year cannot exceed two percent of the remaining balance. Alternatively, lenders may charge prepayment penalties if they clearly disclose the terms in writing, obtain borrower consent, and ensure no penalty applies after 60 months. The law also requires lenders offering penalty-based loans to also offer a product without penalties and clarifies that prepayment penalties are not considered interest.

Provides that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, registration penalties, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement as prima facie evidence against a lessee.

Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.

Establishes the thermal energy network & jobs act facilitating study of the technology to determine if goals can be met by implementing thermal energy networks in Rhode Island/creates a task force of interested parties to be an advisory committee.

Maddy summarySB 2123 exempts the real and tangible personal property of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center in Pawtucket from local property taxes. This targeted exemption applies specifically to the center's buildings and physical assets used for its operations. The bill amends existing tax law to add this organization to the list of entities eligible for property tax exemptions. It does not create new tax policy or affect other properties or organizations.

Maddy summarySB 2260 requires owners of large Rhode Island buildings (25,000+ gross square feet) to annually report energy and water usage data using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Buildings over 50,000 sq ft must start reporting by May 15, 2028, while those between 25,000-49,999 sq ft begin in 2030. The law mandates reporting of metrics like energy use intensity, greenhouse gas emissions, and compliance status to the Office of Energy Resources, which will publish this data publicly. This affects commercial, residential, and campus properties, aiming to increase transparency about building energy performance without imposing new energy efficiency standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Rhode Island General Assembly to officially withdraw its 1861 ratification of the Corwin Amendment, a proposed constitutional change that would have prevented Congress from abolishing slavery. The Corwin Amendment was never fully adopted by enough states to become part of the U.S. Constitution, but this measure removes Rhode Island's historical approval from the record. By rescinding this past action, the state ensures its stance does not contribute to the amendment's potential future ratification, even though the amendment's original purpose is now considered obsolete. The resolution requires sending a certified copy to federal officials and members of Congress for official documentation.

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.

Makes a series of amendments and adds new provisions of law to address business identity theft and deceptive solicitations sent to businesses and the unauthorized formation of entities.

Updates the state’s public accountancy act for consistency with the 9th edition of the Uniform Accountancy Act, as issued by NASBA and AICPA in July 2025.