Rhode Island

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FUNERAL DIRECTOR/EMBALMER AND FUNERAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS - Reduces funeral home inspections from twice a year to once a year.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE - Requires the examination for licensing of certified nursing assistants by the department of health to be administered in both English and Spanish.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE - Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.

PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT - Allows for the sealing of an eviction record for a defective complaint and/or lack of jurisdiction and would, upon motion of a person between 18 and 21 years of age, seal a person's association with an eviction under certain circumstances.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FUNERAL DIRECTOR/EMBALMER AND FUNERAL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS - Provides for the operation and duties of natural organic reduction for the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. Disposition facilities would be used for either cremation or natural organic reduction.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR COST REDUCTION ACT - Amends the state’s online E-Permitting Portal using automated plan review and instant permit issuance.

HIGHWAYS -- CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ROADS - Requires any contractor performing construction or maintenance for RIDOT, RITBA or any other construction on any state roads have in place an attenuator truck/crash truck with an operational camera.

EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS - Mandates the use of a soft-shell helmet cover device that adds a padded, soft-shell layer to the outside of a traditional football helmet, for students participating in Rhode Island interscholastic league football

EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS - Provides that any schools days a public school is closed due to a declared state of emergency be deemed excused for purposes of compliance with minimum school days calendar requirements.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- FAMILY COURT - Gives statewide juvenile hearing boards the authority to refer a juvenile offender to a rehabilitative driving course, as part of a disposition of an offense before the board. The order may be enforced by the traffic tribunal.

HUMAN SERVICES -- PERMANENT JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING AND MULTI-SECTOR PLAN ON AGING - Establishes the Permanent Joint Study Commission on Aging and Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Requires insurers to cover buprenorphine without a copayment or deductible.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Clarifies the means by which attached single-family dwelling units may be created, recorded, and regulated as subdivisions of an existing lot under current zoning ordinance law.

EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS - Permits special community service to be imposed because of bullying based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

INSURANCE -- THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE BY HEALTH INSURERS TO MANAGE COVERAGE AND CLAIMS ACT - Promotes transparency and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence by health insurers to manage coverage and claims.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ELECTRIC BICYCLES - Spells out requirements for operation of recreational vehicles, manual, electric or gas powered.

TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION - Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE - Amends the current law on Alzheimer’s care by enacting a specific list of protocols to be followed and those healthcare facilities subject to the law.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING -- PORTABLE SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES - Excludes portable solar generation devices intended primarily to offset part of a customer's electricity consumption from the definition of eligible net-metering system.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Increases the minimum veterans’ exemption from one thousand dollars ($1,000) to six thousand dollars ($6,000) with respect to municipal taxes.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- AWARD OF MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS - Increases the maximum municipal small purchase limits from $10,000 to $25,000 for construction projects and from $5,000 to $10,000 for all other municipal purchases.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST - Permits non-sworn public safety officers/security guards at private colleges/universities to detain individuals within the campus’s jurisdiction if the officer or guard believes the person committed a criminal offense.