Rhode Island

ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES - Adds early voting to the 50 feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- REGULATION OF SALES - Prohibits the holding of multiple drivers licenses or identification cards and would change the term "re-constructed salvage" to "rebuilt salvage" for purposes of the Rhode Island salvage law.

ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES - Makes several amendments to provide for an online nomination paper portal for election nomination papers.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS - Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause.

EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PILOT PROGRAM ACT - Converts the Rhode Island Hope Scholarship Pilot Program Act into a continuing scholarship program at Rhode Island College, similar to the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship at the Community College of Rhode Island.

TAXATION -- WEALTH PROCEEDS TAX - Imposes a tax equal to four percent (4%) on net investment income, such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, capital gains and rental income, of high-income households, estates and trusts, based upon federal guidelines.

TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX - Establishes phased reduction of personal income tax rates.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES - Includes routine, scheduled or recommended immunizations to individuals between the ages of three (3) and eighteen (18) years, under the consent and reporting provisions required for pharmacy administered immunizations.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY - Decriminalizes certain commercial sexual activity. It would also include human trafficking as a racketeering activity and would allow expungements of certain convictions in § 11-34.1 after one year.

EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP - Makes students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the community college of Rhode Island eligible to receive the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship.

HUMAN SERVICES -- CERTIFICATION OF CHILDCARE AND YOUTH-SERVING WORKERS AND OPERATORS - Eliminates fingerprinting fees for licensed childcare hires, require background checks for youth activity instructors, and allow active TS/SCI clearance to satisfy criminal background check requirements.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS - Expands the deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program in the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to include adoptive parent(s) or siblings(s).

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LEAD HAZARD MITIGATION - Requires renovation projects of pre-1978 buildings to comply with provisions of chapter 24.6 of title 23 and chapter 21 of title 28, and require presence of lead inspector and supervisor and require lead training. DLT would ensure compliance.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCING ENHANCEMENT FOR FIREARM RELATED OFFENSES -- NYNY'S LAW - Provides for sentencing enhancements for any person using prohibited firearms, being a prohibited person or engaging in certain other firearm related offenses resulting in death and constituting first or second degree murder.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- INDICTMENTS, INFORMATIONS AND COMPLAINTS - Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

EDUCATION -- UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND - Enhances and further defines the role of the board of trustees of the University of Rhode Island. This act would also provide a more efficient procurement process for the university.

CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- 2026 BOND REFERENDA - Submits the state's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $217,000,000 for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November 2026.

TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES -- ENFORCEMENT AND COLLECTION - Allows the personal representative of a decedent’s estate to discharge the estate tax lien by recording with decedent’s municipality, a statement stating decedent’s gross estate does not require a state or federal estate tax filing pursuant to §44-22-1.1.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE MANDATORY CARRYING OF EPINEPHRINE AUTOINJECTORS BY POLICE OFFICERS ACT - Requires all peace officers to carry epinephrine autoinjectors in their vehicles or on their person police departments to budget sufficient funds to purchase the epinephrine and autoinjectors and for training of every peace officer.

EDUCATION -- POSTSECONDARY TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR SHORTAGE TEACHING FIELDS - Creates a postsecondary tuition assistance for shortage teaching fields.

TAXATION -- WEALTH TAX - Imposes a wealth tax on Rhode Island individuals and entities at a rate of one percent (1%) of worldwide wealth.

EDUCATION -- HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ACT - Establishes the Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Act.