Rhode Island

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- NATIONAL GUARD - Raises the amount of life insurance the state provides at no charge to Rhode Island National Guard members called up for federal duty to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

EDUCATION -- STUDENT COMPUTER DEVICE PRIVACY - Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.

HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- HOLIDAYS - Changes the name of the holiday on the second Monday of August from Victory Day to Peace and Remembrance Day.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Authorizes the Johnston town council to set tax exemption limit to an amount determined by the city council via ordinance or resolution for qualified individuals defined in the act.

PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES - Allows for food and food supplies procurement by the state of less than $25,000 in aggregate under the small purchase regulations.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FORENSIC AUDIT ACT - Requires that an independent forensic audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the attorney general.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT - Establishes a performance audit division within the office of the auditor general.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE OFFICE OF THE ELDER ADVOCATE - Establishes the office of the elder advocate to promote the rights of older adults in Rhode Island.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION - Provides amendments to procedures necessary for approval of transactions between utilities by giving the public utilities commission jurisdiction; mandates public hearings, allows intervention by any interested party and provides for appeal.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION - Requires the public utilities commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - Creates an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.

WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS - Authorizes the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund the newly established freshwater lake management program.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION - Requires quarterly reading of electric and gas meters.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- APPLIANCE AND EQUIPMENT ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY STANDARDS ACT OF 2021 - Establishes minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliance and specified equipment purchased or installed after January 1, 2025.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE - Requires the governor, when presenting his proposed budget articles for each fiscal year to set forth the climate considerations that were undertaken to move the state towards the mandated goals set forth in the 2021 Act on Climate.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPARENCY IN ELECTRIC AND GAS BILLS ACT - Requires electric and gas utilities to provide a detailed breakdown of supply, delivery, and public policy costs on electric and gas bills, including specific costs for renewable energy sources, and mandate public comment and PUC approval.

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - Creates an emergency action plan related to the operation of warming and cooling centers during periods of extreme weather and establishes a statewide notification system with the National Weather Service initiating warming/cooling center alerts.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION - Defines that a conspicuous display is a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component of said bill.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- PROPERTY TAX/RENT FREEZE BILL - Prohibits cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect.

HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES - Allows the state to require utilities to relocate facilities for certain highway projects and to pay the cost of the relocation to the utility as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING - Changes the residential limit for any substantial multi-family housing project not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) residents according to the United States Census Bureau.

ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS - Allows automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - Establishes statewide standards governing electric meter reading and billing practices.

INSURANCE -- UNIVERSAL AND UNIFIED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM ACT - Establishes a universal and unified healthcare system and reform the current payment system for healthcare coverage in this state.