Rhode Island

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- POLICE OFFICERS -- COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING - Requires mandatory training standards for police officers and trainees, in identifying, responding, and handling all incidents involving any person with a developmental disability.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- NOTIFICATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AFTER EXPOSURE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Amends the definition of infectious diseases to include the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and would include emergency medical technicians eligible for benefits.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES - Prohibits the division of motor vehicles from placing on a motorist's driving record, a traffic violation which fine has been paid no longer than thirty (30) days after its issuance. This procedure would only be utilized twice per year.

TAXATION -- AGREEMENT TO PHASE OUT CORPORATE INCENTIVES COMPACT ACT - Establishes a compact agreement among at least two (2) states to prohibit the selective use of subsidies to an existing specific industry or company, entice relocation from one state to another state or to open a new facility.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Allows the operation of a home-based business, which meets criteria for home office IRS income tax deduction, without securing approval from the municipality with no storage of chemicals/park heavy equipment/not more than 10% of premises used for parking.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- UNIVERSAL REGULATORY SANDBOX ACT - Establishes a Regulatory Sandbox program designed to provide a depository for ideas in a regulatory approach.

TAXATION -- BUSINESS CORPORATION TAX -- AFFORDABLE HOUSING TAX CREDIT ACT - Creates an affordable housing business tax credit as well as eliminate sales tax on any materials purchased for use in the renovation of affordable rental housing.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND REGULATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE IN NEED OF SCRUTINY ACT - Establishes the Rhode Island Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act which would require review and approval of rules with implementation and compliance costs of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more over a two-year period.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES OVERSIGHT - Establishes a permanent joint committee to oversee the department of children, youth and families.

EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS - Requires school committees to provide transportation for any students who resides two (2) or more miles from school.

EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM - Allows any school district to petition the board of education to use a lower-cost curriculum program, if the program is substantially similar to other programs approved by the board of education.

PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS - Makes 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.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS - Allows a pregnant member or member that has given birth in the past six (6) months to appear remotely and permits any member that participates in a meeting remotely to vote at that meeting, provided that the meeting is held in person.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS - Allows school committees to add item(s) not appearing in the published notice to their agendas for the purposes of discussion only and not for the purpose of voting upon the item(s).

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PATIENT PAYMENT INFORMATION - Prohibits a healthcare provider from requiring patients to provide electronic payment information to be kept on file as a condition to receiving treatment and makes it a violation a deceptive trade practice.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- THE EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT AND BUDGET EQUITY IMPACT ACT - Establishes a two-year pilot program, from January 2027 to December 2028, to incorporate equity impact statements into the legislative process for both the House and Senate chamber.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- SENIOR SAVINGS PROTECTION ACT - Requires anyone engaged in the sale of goods or services, and who offers a discount to its customers’ for utilizing automatic payment systems, via ACH or EFT or similar payment systems, provide the same discount to any person who is sixty-five (65).

EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM - Directs the council on elementary and secondary education to develop recommendations for a high school curriculum to prepare students for successful postsecondary education and careers in computer science.

TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES - Permits every municipality in the state to offer a homestead tax exemption of up to 20% of assessed value on residential properties, and also provides that municipalities that grant greater exemptions not be limited by this section.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES - Requires businesses to notify customers whenever a surcharge or fee for payment made by credit card is imposed.