Rhode Island

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSUMER PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024 - Modifies the definition of “intentionally added PFAS” to mean PFAS that are deliberately added during the manufacturing of a covered product to perform a specific function.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT - Establishes the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE REPARATIONS ACT - Prohibits the consideration of an applicant's credit history in determining automobile insurance rates.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURES -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- ARBITRATION - Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by improving the fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings, and preventing insurers from delaying or obstructing the dispute resolution process.

INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT - Characterizes the failure of a homeowner's insurance policy to use matching principle in its interpretation of replacement cost coverage in its homeowner's insurance policy, as an unfair claim settlement practices.

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.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- RHODE ISLAND DELETE ACT - Requires any entity that knowingly collects, shares or sells to third parties the personal data of a consumer to register with the department of business regulations and permits for the consumer to request deletion of the personal data.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES - Strengthens consumer protections by including definitions related directly to deceptive trade practices inherent in the insurance claim process.

FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LICENSING - Assesses a fee of one cent ($0.01) per every ten thousand (10,000) gallons of wastewater treatment facility effluent discharge.

ELECTIONS -- RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES REPORTING - Amends various sections of law relating to campaign contributions and expenditures, including prohibitions on self-dealing with committee funds and prohibits donations made in fictitious names.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS - Names the new coveside dog park, located at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park."

GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS - Names the new coveside dog park, located at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park."

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS - Increases continuing education requirements for physician assistants, removes restrictions of PAs to render charitable care and aid for school and youth programs or cardiac arrest and removes restrictive covenants as to ownership by a PA.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CANNABIS ACT - Provides for annual appropriations to the substance use mental health leadership council to address hazardous and underage cannabis use.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND USE ACT - Allows municipalities to request a one-time, state-approved extension to update comprehensive plans if they show active progress, while keeping the existing plan in effect during the extension period.

PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS - Provides for the authorized taking of mushrooms from lands under control of the DEM for personal use.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION - Tolls the statute of limitations for causes of action arising out of business activities conducted in this state by a person or entity required to register with the secretary of state but failing to do so, until such person or entity becomes registered.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS - Creates a Rhode Island specialty license for physician assistants who earn the NCCPA psychiatry CAQ, formally recognizing advanced behavioral health qualifications and supporting appropriate insurance reimbursement.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- ARBITRATION - Extends time for a party to apply for stay of arbitration to180 days; invalidates any provision that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation; requires arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees.