Rhode Island

TAXATION -- REAL ESTATE CONVEYANCE TAX - Allows a municipality to set its own conveyance tax rate for residential properties sold in excess of $900,000.00 at $10 per $500. Provides collected taxes to be in a restricted account and distributed within 2 years for affordable housing.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM - Establishes 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.

PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE BUDGET - Requires the general assembly to cap expenditures based on a five (5) year increase in personal income or the annual rate of inflation based on the consumer price index.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES - Allows for the holder of a manufacturer’s license to be able to sell one one-sixth (1/6) barrel keg of malt beverage, produced on the premises, per day.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION -- PROCEDURE - Amends the workers' compensation reimbursement provisions related to the liability of third person for damages.

HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES - Utility relocation costs related to highway construction to be partially or fully paid for by the state.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- GENERAL PROVISIONS - Provides that Rhode Island state employees be eligible for temporary disability insurance effective January 1, 2027.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS - Authorizes the committees of the general assembly to allow members of the public to provide testimony remotely.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- LICENSES GENERALLY - Authorizes the town of Scituate to issue a total of three (3) Class A liquor licenses.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- INSPECTOR GENERAL - Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSUMER PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024 - Exempts certain cookware that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS that are authorized by the FDA for food contact for consumer goods from the provision of the consumer PFAS ban act of 2024.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES - Provides motor vehicles under 8,500 pounds would not require a further inspection after the first inspection, until the vehicle reached twenty (20) years of age.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL - Restricts application of pesticides and rodenticides at schools and childcare centers and requires schools to provide copies of notice to parents and guardians.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES -- QUALITY OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION AND SCHOOL-AGE CHILD CARE THROUGH VOLUNTARY QUALITY RATING SYSTEM - Establishes certain presumptions pertaining to early childhood education programs operating in RIDE-certified school buildings.

INSURANCE -- PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS - Caps the total amount that a covered person is required to pay for a covered prescription inhaler, prescription device, or prescription equipment to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per thirty (30) day supply.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES - Increases fees paid to jurors to fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.

TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS - Includes menthol as a flavored electronic nicotine-delivery system product.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PLASTIC WASTE CONVERSION FACILITY ACT - Establishes the Plastic Waste Conversion Facility Act.

TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS - Permits dealers without a distributor's license to resell cigars, and ultra premium pipe tobacco, excluding pipe tobacco intended for cigarettes, to other dealers.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND FIRE SERVICES TRAINING FUND ACT - Establishes the Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES - Repeals § 3-7-19 which prohibits retail liquor licenses within two hundred feet (200') of schools and religious institutions.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Caps amount payable for 30 day supply of equipment/supplies for insulin administration/glucose monitoring at $25 or equipment designed to last more than 30 days with no deductible commencing January 1, 2027.

TAXATION -- HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS 2013 - Increases historic tax credit to 30%, and up to 35%, depending on the amount of rental area available for multi-family housing, affordable rental units and units sold as affordable housing.

PUBLIC FINANCE -- STATE INVESTMENT COMMISSION - Requires the state investment commission to create a capital access initiative to expand potential investment opportunities for the state’s pension fund and engage qualified but traditionally underrepresented investment managers.