Hanna M Gallo

Senate Resolution Honoring The Victims Of The Brown University Shooting And Commending First Responders

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable David R. Carlin, Jr.

This act would provide that an insurer furnish written notice of nonrenewal of automobile or homeowner's insurance coverage at least sixty (60) days prior to nonrenewal, and written notice of any coverage reductions, elimination, or increased deductibles for this insurance not made to the request of the insured would be furnished at least thirty (30) days prior to renewal. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would add "media literacy" to the standards currently taught in civic education for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), which are the history of Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship and the principles of democracy. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that the school year for all public schools, including traditional public and public charter schools, independent charter schools, and mayoral academies, would start on the same date of each calendar year. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution To Approve, Publish And Submit To The Electors A Proposition Of Amendment To The Constitution -- Right To An Adequate Education (amends The Constitution To Guarantee Rhode Island Residents With Equal Opportunity To Receive An Education That Is Adequate, Equitable And Meaningful And Provides Judicial Enforcement Of This Provision.)

This act would impose a sales tax on digital advertising services. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026

This act would raise the amount of life insurance the state would provide at no charge to Rhode Island National Guard members called up for federal duty to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit the family court from detaining any youth or committing any youth, twelve (12) years or younger, to the training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses, and the court determines that there is no other reasonable placement to ensure the safety of the youth and the general public. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that statements by a healthcare provider to a patient or to the patient's relative or representative regarding the unanticipated outcome of such patient's medical care and treatment, such as an apology or an expression of sympathy, shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission against interest in any claim or action against the provider. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require every school district to render assistance and cooperation within its jurisdictional power to further the objectives of this chapter, to wit, providing the courts with any information concerning a child as the court may require. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that a conspicuous display be a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component of said bill, subject to the approval of the division of public utilities (DPUC). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would expand the council on elementary and secondary education to ten (10) members; make six (6) members a quorum; would make the teacher of the year a voting member; would require the student advisory council to meet at least quarterly; would make the chair of the student advisory council a voting member of the council; would expand the board of education from seventeen (17) to nineteen (19) members and would include the Rhode Island teacher of the year and the chairperson of the student advisory council and would also be voting members to the board. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to ensure that every public school has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. This act would also direct the commissioner to ensure that every public school has a certified school librarian to manage and maintain the library. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would expand the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run, to maintain on site functional automated external defibrillators (AED) while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools, inclusive of athletic activities, beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create postsecondary tuition assistance for shortage teaching fields which are defined as subject areas or teacher certifications that are experiencing a critical lack of educators in the state such as any sciences grades seven (7) through twelve (12) and any mathematics grades seven (7) through twelve (12). Recipients of tuition assistance would have to be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment at a Rhode Island postsecondary institution in a program to become a teacher in a shortage field and complete at least three (3) years of full-time teaching in a shortage teaching field in this state. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a statewide “healthy school meals for all” universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over three (3) years. The program would begin with all elementary school students, then add all middle school students in year two (2), and then provide universal meals for all students by the 2028-2029 school year. The act would also direct that in operating its school breakfast and lunch program, each public educational entity would seek to maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by participating in one of several identified federal programs in order to obtain federal funds to offset the costs to districts of providing free breakfasts and lunches and minimize the costs to the state. The general assembly would be required to make an appropriation by separate line items in the budget to provide breakfast and lunch at no charge for children in state subsidized early childhood education programs. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would eliminate the sunset on the provision of funding for child care educators. This act would also modify the eligibility requirement to eighty-five (85%) percent of state median income to waive any copayment. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with a workgroup composed of various stakeholders, would develop a funding formula for school districts sending students to career and technical programs outside their district. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the community college of Rhode Island eligible to receive the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the Rhode Island promise scholarship program or the Rhode Island hope scholarship program, after Rhode Island college has satisfied all eligible scholarships pursuant to those programs, to be reimbursed to onward we learn for any scholarships that onward we learn has paid on behalf of its students who have attended Rhode Island college in that fiscal year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the executive office of health and human services. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require the respective party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days of notice of vacancy, in a municipal election office and would require the mayor or council president to make a nomination for a replacement to the council within thirty (30) days of receipt of the lists. It would also clarify the term expiration dates for canvassing authority members and alternates and would direct the city or town clerk to provide written notice of the corrections and amend the official records, if the term expiration dates on record, are found to be in noncompliance with the provisions of this act. The act would require the local canvassing board to designate a chief local election official, and for that designee to designate an alternate local election official and would further establish that the chief local election official is the only agent authorized to request user access to the statewide central voter register, via the secretary of state. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would prohibit participation in the federal school voucher tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations unless both the general assembly and the governor approve such participation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would amend the OPA desk audit classification rules to eliminate supervising other employees as a factor for position upgrade eligibility. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide for the right to strike for public sector workers in Rhode Island, including teachers, with exceptions for police officers, firefighters, 911 employees, and correctional officers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal the law that prevents a collective bargaining agreement covering state employees, public school teachers and municipal employees from specifying a particular healthcare provider in it. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the gross weight of a vehicle eligible for reserve forces plates from eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) to twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) and have the United States flag on the plates. The act would also spell out the requirements for proof of honorable discharge to be furnished to the division of motor vehicles and the renewal month for the passenger and commercial vehicles. This act would take effect upon passage.

This would establish the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize and fund the painting of a portrait of the president of the senate and former presidents of the senate to be hung in the senate lounge or thereabouts. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a program through which fire departments and fire districts are notified of locations of registrants of electric and hybrid motor vehicles by the division of motor vehicles. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would eliminate the registration and service charge fees for National Guard plates. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would remove the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Commemorating The Celebration Of The Birth Of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., On January 15, 2026

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable Richard Serra

Senate Resolution Honoring And Remembering The Life Of Nayasia A. Gonzalez

This act would allow municipalities participating in the state prekindergarten program to accept students from outside the municipality under certain conditions and establish a lottery for enrollment in the program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would extend teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5) years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026. This act would permit a teacher who has three (3) years of certified teaching experience, to acquire an additional certification through examination or content coursework. This act would also direct the department of elementary and secondary education to revise its regulations pertaining to certification to create multiple pathways to obtain teacher and administrator certification. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include Medicaid enrollment in the student success factor of the foundation aid formula to provide added support for high-need students beyond the core instructional amount. This would begin with the FY 2027 calculation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that not later than June 30, 2027, the department of education would develop and adopt, in consultation with the office of energy resources, regulations requiring all school buildings to meet the standard of zero energy capable, as defined in § 16-7-36, by December 31, 2037. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt from sales tax the trade-in values of motorcycles as well the proceeds received as a result of an unrecovered stolen or total loss of a motorcycle. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing fourteen thousand pounds (14,000 lbs.) or less from sales and use tax. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a new categorical funding category for civics education and create a new fund dedicated to civics education. This fund would also require that the allocation of funding be approved and implemented by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education pursuant to a request for proposal process. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would allow members of the retirement system who served in the national guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National guard or reserves. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize an annual two and one-half percent (2.5%) escalation for all active and retired police and firefighter's retirement pension allowance, compounded each year on January 1 following the year of retirement and continuing yearly, on that date. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee, by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement, under a health plan as of January 1, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Respectfully Requesting The Executive Office Of Health And Human Services (eohhs) To Adopt An Electronic Preadmission Screening And Resident Review (pasrr) System

This act would permit every municipality in the state to offer a homestead tax exemption of up to twenty percent (20%) of assessed value on residential properties, and would also provide that municipalities that grant greater exemptions would not be limited by this section. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all schools and educational institutions to develop and implement a school safety plan that would provide for immediate access to school facilities by first responders in an emergency. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a tenant with a disability who needs a service animal or an emotional support animal to house the animal on the rented premises. The act would allow a landlord to request documentation from the tenant supporting the need for the emotional support animal. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the penalties for a first offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death to a minimum ten (10) years in incarceration, a minimum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and a minimum license revocation of ten (10) years. It would also increase other penalties in this section from a minimum of five (5) years to ten (10) years in prison for violation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their official duties a felony. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandate training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks. The act would require the department of health to establish and implement a training program. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would establish a seven (7) member public-private partnership infrastructure oversight commission to approve all requests for proposals submitted for public-private partnership construction of qualified facilities. This act would also establish a new scheme outlining the request for proposal process for the construction of public-private qualified facilities and would further provide for the state to exercise the power of eminent domain relating to the construction of such qualified facilities. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the commuter transportation benefit chapter. Employers with five hundred (500) or more employees would be required to establish a pre-tax commuter transportation fringe benefit program. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would permit the implementation of a system of electronic registration and titling of motor vehicles by the DMV and would require that rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter would be promulgated by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would authorize the use of campaign funds for security related expenses, including home or office security systems and ongoing monitoring services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish property, tangible, sales and use tax exemptions as incentives for the location of qualified data centers in Rhode Island upon a minimum qualified investment of two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) in a designated enterprise zone and four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) in a non-enterprise zone. The application requirements and approval process would be in a form and manner prescribed by the Rhode Island commerce corporation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct that, on or before September 8, 2026, middle and high schools which issue student identification cards to include on those cards contact crisis telephone numbers for suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention. This information would also be required to be placed on identification cards issued to school and district employees working in the schools. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Act. This act would enable students with disabilities who are ages eighteen (18) through twenty- one (21) years, and in some cases to age twenty-two (22) years, to audit and otherwise attend state colleges and universities using the student’s foundation education aid. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of health to issue guidance for the administration of seizure rescue medications administered for students who have been medically identified as having epilepsy/seizure disorder. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner or former spouse and grant, to eligible retirees who retired after July 1, 2012, and provide a one-time full COLA of three and thirty-four one hundredths percent (3.34%). This act would further provide a modification reducing federal adjusted gross income for the amount received of public pension benefits administered by the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the earned-income tax credit to thirty percent (30%) for the tax years 2027 and beyond. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the department of human services and the department of elementary and secondary education to work collaboratively to manage existing workforce development and compensation programs for educators working in licensed child care and early learning programs statewide and would allocate at least $1,000,000 to continue the Child Care WAGE$ model to help strengthen and sustain the child care workforce. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $15,200,000 To Be Used To Purchase Pfas-free Firefighting Gear (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $15,200,000 To Cities And Towns To Purchase Firefighter And Rescue Personnel Protective Gear Which Is Pfas Free.)

This act would make numerous changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public. Additionally, this act would include a police report of an incident that does not lead to an arrest as accessible to public records request. Any final reports of investigations conducted by internal affairs would be accessible to public records request. All police worn body camera footage would be accessible to public records request and would be made available within thirty (30) days. Arrest logs made within thirty (30) days of arrest, changed from five (5) days previously, would be accessible to public records request. A civil fine for public officials who knowingly violate this chapter would increase from two thousand dollars ($2,000) to four thousand dollars ($4,000), and if a public official recklessly violates this chapter a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) is a change from one thousand dollars ($1,000) previously. There would also be relief in the case of a person filing frivolous request with the intent to disrupt government operations. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow parents or guardians to have access to GPS data of the bus or other motor vehicle used to transport students to and from school. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize the city of Cranston to establish a housing division within its municipal court. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would enlarge the definitions of prohibited acts that constitute hazing, make principals, coaches, athletic directors and others responsible for knowingly failing to take reasonable measures to prevent hazing and would punish serious injury by up to ten (10) years of imprisonment. This act would also increase the civil and criminal penalties for hazing and permitting hazing. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that any covered entity that develops and provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing and developing such online service, product, or feature. The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by the attorney general and violators are subject to civil penalties. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would change the maximum term of employment for a superintendent from three (3) to five (5) years. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow for a special Rhode Island license plate to raise awareness for colon cancer. The plate would be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in honor of the late Maryellen Goodwin. The fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general fund and the not-for-profit Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include a veteran who is seventy-five (75) years of age or older with a combined service-connected disability rating of seventy percent (70%), as eligible for disabled veterans license plates. A veteran who is “individually unemployable” due to a service-connected disability shall be exempted from the payment of the annual registration of and license to operate fee. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the public utilities commission (PUC) to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities, defined as a facility that uses or is able to use twenty megawatts (20mw) or more and is primarily engaged in providing a service that is related to businesses offering infrastructure like cloud storage, application hosting (excluding software publishing), data entry services and facilities that process client-supplied data for reports or provide automated services such as optical scanning and disk conversion. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the statute establishing Rhode Island's voluntary quality rating system for early care and education and school-age child care by requiring that, for school-age child care programs operating in RIDE-certified school buildings, facility-based elements of observational tools or environment rating scales (including SACERS or successor tools) be deemed met or treated neutrally in order that such facility-based elements do not reduce a program's quality rating level. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit state agencies from entering into software contracts that limit the agency's ability to install or run the software of the agency's choosing on their hardware. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in the fiscal year 2026- 2027 budget to support the mental health and emotional well-being of children and youth through investments in out-of-school time (“OST”) settings, as essential, community-based spaces that provide connection, stability, and resilience during a period of heightened need and reduced public supports. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make it an unfair claim practice whenever a dental insurer refuses to honor a “direction to pay” after a request by the claimant or the insured. This act would allow the insurer to review the records of the service provider to verify that the services were received, but prohibits the insurer from modifying the amount of benefits to be paid. This act would not allow a contract between the insurer and a dental service provider requiring the provider to accept payment for services only by virtual credit card. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the date for the election of delegates to the conventions from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March 2028. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the department of elementary and secondary education, in conjunction with the Rhode Island interscholastic league, to promulgate rules and regulations to address, minimize, and establish an anti-hazing policy for acts of hazing in student athletics. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Congratulating James Parisi On His Retirement After Three Decades Of Exemplary Service As A Lobbyist For The Rhode Island Federation Of Teachers And Health Professionals

This act would enact the State of Rhode Island interior design practice act to control and regulate the professional practice of interior designers. This act would establish a board existing of seven (7) members, four (4) of whom would be registered interior designers. The board would have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to register interior designers, regulate the unlawful practice of interior design, and enforcement of such rules and regulations. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would establish enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries to preclude the library from being subject to unfair sales practices. This act would not be enforceable until the attorney general determines and publishes notices that at least four (4) other states have enacted laws that establish enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries. This act shall take effect upon the publication of notice by the attorney general that at least four (4) other states have enacted laws that establish enforceable limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries that are substantially similar in purpose to this act, and that those states collectively represent a combined population of at least ten million (10,000,000) persons, as determined by the most recent United States decennial census.

This act would nullify the department of elementary and secondary education's recommendation that the turnaround plan for Providence public schools be continued. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would amend the current law on teacher’s creditable service so that a teacher who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year would be given credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of one-hundred thirty-five school days. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit the family court to retain jurisdiction over juveniles and allow the family court to order juveniles detained in the training school until the age of twenty-one if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a restricted receipt account at the department of labor and training (“DLT”) to be used for hospitality industry workforce training grants, including certified food and alcohol safety training programs to be offered in multiple languages, funded by an annual fee of fifty ($50.00) dollars to be charged by the department of health (“DOH”) to food service establishments. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027

This act would allow, but not require, local licensing authorities to grant temporary periods for extended indoor service hours under existing liquor licenses for certain 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament matches occurring between June 11, 2026 and July 3, 2026, for operation until up to 4 a.m. with liquor service until up to 3 a.m. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide educators and administrators employed in a charter public school or mayoral academy with prevailing wage and benefits oversight and recourse if found in violation of the same. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide an end to transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. The department would ensure there is at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches. This act would also require that any payment processing platform used by the district clearly discloses whether fees will be charged. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow Rhode Island based employers to pay a portion of the employee’s student loan debt, if said employee is employed in a high-need profession to address a workforce shortage or critical public need, is committed to working full-time in such profession for two (2) consecutive years in this state, is enrolled in income driven repayment and working in underserved communities. This act would also require annual reporting to the Rhode Island student loan authority (“RISLA”). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the monthly minimum death benefit for a spouse, domestic partner or former spouse. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require health insurers to comply with federal mental health parity laws, prevent discriminatory treatment limits, and ensure meaningful mental health and substance use coverage in all benefit classifications. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create the child-serving provider liability joint underwriting association to provide a joint underwriting association to provide liability insurance coverage for eligible child serving providers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow lane filtering, the act of passing stopped or slow-moving vehicles proceeding in the same direction, for motorcycles at low speeds. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the minimum threshold contract price before public works contractors are required to pay prevailing wages to their employees, from one thousand dollars ($1,000) to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). This act also would require municipal oversight, enforcement and compliance with the payment of prevailing wages regarding municipal contracts. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Urging The Congress Of The United States To Enact The Major Richard Star Act

This act would freeze obligated entities’ annual requirements regarding percentages of retail sales of electricity obtained from renewable energy sources for the years 2027, 2028, and 2029. This act would further permit the use of nuclear energy obtained outside the state for use within the state to achieve the state’s renewable energy standard. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would create the green buildings act commission to consist of seventeen (17) members, responsible for the implementation of the green buildings act in consultation with the state building office, building code commission of the Rhode Island department of business regulation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would characterize the failure of a homeowner's insurance policy to use matching principle in its interpretation of replacement cost coverage in its homeowner's insurance policy, as an unfair claim settlement practice. The result would be matching the damaged part of the property to the undamaged part to restore the property to its condition, prior to the loss, resulting in a uniform appearance. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require insurance companies to settle claims or request additional information within thirty (30) days of receipt of a notice of claim filed by an insured party. Failure to comply would result in a penalty of two hundred fifty ($250) dollars per day, payable to the insured. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend how architecture firms and individual architects are registered. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would provide that only a mayor or town administrator could be a voting member of the board of directors or trustees for a mayoral academy. The act would also authorize other nonvoting members on the board of directors and trustees, from each included city or town that the mayoral academy serves. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that no new charter school application shall be granted, if the proposed school is a network charter school or the expansion of an existing charter school would create a network charter school. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Creating A Special Legislative Commission To Study And Provide Recommendations For The Creation Of A Statewide Teacher Healthcare Plan (creates An 11-member Commission To Study And Make Recommendations On A Statewide Teacher Healthcare Plan, And Would Report Quarterly As Of September 1, 2026, And Submit A Final Report By September 1, 2027, And Expires On December 31, 2027.)

This act would remove the sunset provision of the Rhode Island hope pilot scholarship program, making it a permanent scholarship program. This act would also rename the program as the Rhode Island hope scholarship program. This act would take effect on take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would require that the state’s share to support public library services in fiscal year 2027 be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended by the city or town in the second preceding fiscal year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would extend the timeframe for the division of taxation to review nonresident contractor cases and provide a specific penalty for noncompliance with the statute's withholding requirements. This act would take effect upon passage.

The act would require a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need studies. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would submit the state's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling two hundred seventeen million dollars ($217,000,000) for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November 2026. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in section 1 hereof have indicated their approval of the projects thereunder.

This act would, under the emergency fund for victims, increase the share of a victim’s total award that may be used for relocation related expenses but would not increase total compensation available to a victim. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit children with diagnosed developmental disabilities whose third birthday is between May 1 and August 31 to continue to receive early intervention services through September 1 after the child’s third birthday. Further, this act would direct the EOHHS to develop and implement a plan to ensure continuity of services and minimize gaps in support as children with services transition to early childhood special education. Additionally, this act would require private health insurers to cover this extended early intervention option. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Senate Resolution Formally Requesting The Department Of Elementary And Secondary Education To Implement All Provisions Of The State Funding Formula For Education

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $500,000 To Sojourner House In Rhode Island (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.)

This act would repeal the older of the two existing chapters related to speech-language pathologists and audiologists and would make several amendments to reconcile the two statutes into one. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase continuing medical education requirements for physician assistants to fifty (50) hours biannually. The act also would remove restrictions of physician assistants to render charitable care provided they have liability coverage; permit physician assistants to render aid under The School and Youth Programs Concussion Act and “The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act; and remove restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This bill would require the executive office of health and human services to provide self- measured blood pressure monitoring for eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, covering home monitors, training, data transmission, and co-interventions, with state funds if federal aid is unavailable. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit reimbursement for dental hygienists from "other insurance" or a third-party payor such as Medicare. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Urging State Agencies To Expand Access To Retirement Advice And Guidance For Rhode Island State Employees To Ensure A Secure And Dignified Retirement

This act would move North Kingstown from the third division of the district court to the fourth division to better balance case workloads among the divisions. This act would take effect two (2) months after passage.

This act would add school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials. In the case of an alleged threat against these persons, a suspect would be charged only if the suspect is eighteen (18) years of age or older and is not a student at the school. No student enrolled or matriculating at the school would be charged under the provisions of this act. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Approve And Publish And Submit To The Electors A Proposition Of Amendment To The Constitution -- Of Qualification For Office (proposes A State Constitutional Amendment To Provide No Person Could Hold Office As General Officer Unless That Person Was A Resident And A Registered Voter In The State Of Rhode Island For At Least 2 Years, Continuously, Prior To Taking Office.)

This act would repeal provisions which allow the department of corrections to charge inmates for phone calls and would require the department of corrections to provide free communication services to inmates and juveniles held in residential placement or detention centers. This act also would require that those facilities provide in-person contact visits. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create three (3) new awards for Rhode Island National Guard members and would provide eligibility for the Rhode Island star for certain civilian government employees and military and civilian leaders of foreign governments. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Recognizing March 8, 2026, As "international Women's Day" And The Month Of March As "women's History Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would establish 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. This act would take effect upon passage, with full implementation no later than fiscal year 2030.

This act would establish a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit those individuals convicted of multiple felonies and misdemeanors to have their records expunged and provide criteria for the court to consider in determining whether the person is of good character. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating March Of 2026 As “arts In The Schools - Youth Art Month” In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Congratulating The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (ahepa) Chapter 106 "sophocles" Of Providence On The Joyous Occasion Of Its 100th Anniversary

Senate Resolution Joyously Celebrating "world Greek Language Day In The State Of Rhode Island" As Proclaimed By Unesco

This act would expand the health professional loan repayment program to healthcare providers practicing in primary care health settings. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Affirming The State Of Rhode Island's Commitment To Supporting Women In The Building Trades And Expanding Equitable Access To Careers In The Construction Industry

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Anna Casale

This act would specify that pre-kindergarten programs for three (3) and four (4) year olds be added to programs to increase access to voluntary, free, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs and that the department of education work with the department of human services to achieve the goal of this chapter. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation To The Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $1,167,100, To The Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program, To Support The Program’s Mission To Provide Specialized Auditory-oral Programming For Children With Hearing Loss.)

This act would prohibit a healthcare entity from unilaterally modifying amending or reinterpreting any material term or condition of a contact with a healthcare provider during the term of such contact. This act would take effect upon passage.

Effective for retirement plan year 2026, the act would provide that all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment would be reinstated and municipal employees would receive a one-time cost of living adjustment of two and eighty nine one hundredths percent (2.89%). The act would also provide that public petition benefits from the state retirement system would not be subject to the state personal income tax. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating March 19, 2026, As "rhode Island College Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would prevent an insurer from designating a motor vehicle a total loss if the cost to rebuild or reconstruct the motor vehicle to its pre-accident condition is less than seventy-five percent (75%) to eighty-five percent (85%) of the "fair market value". It would allow the consumer to designate the motor vehicle a total loss when the seventy-five percent (75%) threshold is met but less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the vehicle. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Commemorating The Celebration Of St. Joseph's Day

Senate Resolution Honoring The Life And Legacy Of The Late Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio And Commemorating The Naming Of The Rhode Island Senate Chamber In His Honor

Senate Resolution Welcoming The Narragansett Council, Scouting America, To The Rhode Island State House On February 24th Of 2026, And Joyfully Celebrating Scouting Month In February

This act would create the Rhode Island voting rights act to establish procedures to prevent discrimination in the voting process. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Celebrating "uri Day" At The Rhode Island State House On March 26, 2026

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Michael J. Murphy

This act would establish guidelines, rules and regulations for the implementation and expansion of high-quality public prekindergarten education programs for children ages three (3) and four (4) to increase children’s school readiness and to ensure high quality prekindergarten services are available statewide and coordinated together by the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of human services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend pension benefits for Rhode Island State Police members and pension benefit determinations to be based on date of hire and years of service. Retirements authorized after twenty (20) years of service would be entitled to fifty percent (50%) of whole salary. Members may accrue an additional three percent (3%) for each year of service over twenty (20) years with a cap of sixty-five percent (65%) of whole salary. Members may serve no more than a maximum of thirty (30) years. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that no contract between a dental plan or other healthcare entity and a dentist for the provision of services to beneficiaries would require the dentist to accept payment exclusively by means of any form of payment method that requires dentists to pay fees or charges to release payment including virtual credit cards. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would designate bridge number 44-000000000007010, located in Providence, Rhode Island, where U.S. Route 44 (Smith Street) crosses over both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95, roughly a tenth of a mile south of the junction with Route 146, as the “George Nee Bridge.” This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Commemorating March 25, 2026, As The 205th Anniversary Of Greek Independence Day And Celebrating Democracy In Greece And The United States

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April Of 2026, To Be "financial Literacy Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $250,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders In Rhode Island (this Resolution Would Make An Appropriation Of $250,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders.)

Senate Resolution Commending The Valiant Intervention Efforts Of Superior Court Judge Joseph J. Mcburney And Head Of Security, Dana Smith On Behalf Of His Court Intern Who Was Wrongfully Identified And Targeted By Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ice) Agents

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 24, 2026, As "armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" To Commemorate The Armenian Genocide Of 1915 To 1923, And In Honor Of Armenian-americans

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 2026, As "school Library Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would repeal § 16-2-34 ("Central Falls School District board of trustees"). The Central Falls Stabilization Fund would include funding for tuition payments for outplaced special education students and tuition payments to other public schools. The Davies and Met Stabilization Fund would be established to ensure appropriate funding is available to support their students. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $500,000 To Onward We Learn In Support Of Rhode Island Gear Up (appropriates The Sum Of $500,000 To Onward We Learn In Support Of Rhode Island Gear Up.)

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 16, 2026, To Be "community College Of Rhode Island Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 28, 2026, To Be "arts Day In Rhode Island"

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 4th Through May 8th Of 2026, To Be "teacher Appreciation Week" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would establish a state-run prescription drug purchasing pool, available for participation by nonstate public employers, private employers, and health insurance carriers, to maximize the value of drug discounts available to participants. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt certain vehicles that are not manufactured with the proper front plate registration bracket from the requirement that motor vehicles display a front facing registration plate. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 19th Of 2026 As "greek And Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Supporting "period Poverty Awareness Week" On May 11-17, 2026, In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Reaffirming The Friendship Between The State Of Rhode Island And Taiwan While Supporting Enhanced Bilateral Relations With Taiwan And Taiwan's Participation In The International Community

Senate Resolution Honoring Executive Director Julie Leddy Upon Her Retirement After Twenty-nine Years Of Dedicated Service To The Coventry Housing Authority

Senate Resolution Commemorating May Of 2026, As "national Speech-language-hearing Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Congratulating Ripin On 35 Years Of Improving Rhode Islanders' Lives

This act would establish a separate domestic violence calendar within the superior court to handle felony domestic violence cases. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would be a proposed bond measure to authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue up to thirty-six million dollars ($36,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, with respect to projects relating to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rhode Island. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, and 13 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in section 1 of this act have indicated their approval of the project thereunder.

This act would change tax exemptions to tax credits in the city of Cranston. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize the state retirement board to revoke or reduce an individual’s pension benefit if that individual is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to a felony sex crime related to their public office or public employment. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that the commissioner of elementary and secondary education would direct all local education agencies to select one of the identified high-quality curricula and materials for science and technology no later than June 30, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 10th, 2026, To Be "lupus Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would protect individuals and businesses from those who knowingly impersonate an entity with the intent of facilitating fraud. This act would also protect individuals and businesses from digital forgery. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming June 4, 2026, To Be "cox Impact Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE REPAIR, CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF STORM DRAINS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE REMEDIATION AND MITIGATION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOODING PROBLEMS, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $25,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE PURCHASE AND/OR ACQUISITION OF LAND AND BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, LANDSCAPING, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR AND ALTERATION OF PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION AND REPAIR OF FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Authorizing The City Of Cranston To Finance The Design, Construction, Repair, Rehabilitation And Improvement Of Streets, Sidewalks And Bridges In The City Including, But Not Limited To, Paving, Drainage, Traffic Control Devices, Road Maintenance Equipment, Safety Improvements And Landscaping And All Costs Incidental Or Related Thereto By The Issuance Of Not More Than $8,000,000 General Obligation Bonds And Notes Therefor

This act would allow for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by United States Postal Service First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by United States Postal Service certified mail return receipt requested. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require an insurance company to directly pay the insured's chosen appraiser and the umpire appraiser, if applicable, upon receipt of a "direction to pay" executed by an insured or claimant. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Creating A Special Joint Legislative Commission To Study Rhode Island's Education Funding Formula And Education Finance System (creates A Special Joint Legislative Commission To Make A Comprehensive Study Of Rhode Island's Education Funding Formula And Education Finance System.)

Senate Resolution Honoring Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. On The Occasion Of Its 50th Anniversary And Recognizing Its Enduring Impact On The Health And Well-being Of Rhode Islanders

This act would require an insurance company to directly pay the insured's chosen appraiser and the umpire appraiser, if applicable, upon receipt of a "direction to pay" executed by an insured or claimant. This act would take effect upon passage.