Rhode Island

INSURANCE -- RHODE ISLAND INSURANCE MARKET PROTECTION ACT - Regulates property insurers to limit underwriting and investment in fossil fuel projects, requires climate risk reporting and emissions disclosures, and aligns insurance practices with science-based climate targets.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESIDENTIAL REUSE INCENTIVE ACT - Creates a state program and fund to finance adaptive reuse and mixed-use housing projects, requires affordable units and labor standards, and provides oversight to expand housing until 2035.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, AND BRIDGE POLICE - Provides any police report involving a railroad fatality and all communications between railroad employees not be made public. Additionally, it makes a violation of this section a misdemeanor.

INSURANCE -- DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANIES - Requires insurance companies to settle claims or request additional information within 30 days of receipt of a notice of claim. Failure to comply results in $250/day payable to the insured party.

TAXATION -- CATASTROPHE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ACT - Establishes the catastrophe savings account act.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT - Distinguishes residential and commercial short-term rental properties for tax purposes.

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY - Increases the maximum penalty for certain violations related to the cutting, removal, damage by injurious liquids or gases to trees, plants and shrubs on any public highway or public land under the jurisdiction of state agencies from $500 to $1,000.

TAXATION -- COLLECTION OF TAXES GENERALLY - Adds the town of Smithfield to those towns specifically named to tax any person for either a mobile or manufactured home and automatically lien the a mobile or manufactured home.

PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS - Allows that public records stored in a computer system, upon request, be provided at no charge.

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - Requires the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency and the Rhode Island commerce commission to develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.

TAXATION -- REAL ESTATE CONVEYANCE TAX - Requires that the tax imposed upon the conveyance of any real property that is located in more than one municipality to be allocated between or among the municipalities in proportions to the assessed value of the property located in each municipality.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- SUBDIVISION OF LAND - Reduces the newspaper advertising notice requirements for amendments to zoning ordinances and planning board meetings from three (3) weeks to two (2) weeks.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Permits, but not directs, a municipality to allow certain requirements regarding consistent statewide treatment of accessory dwelling units.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOBILE AND MANUFACTURED HOMES - Gives mobile home residents a right of first refusal to buy or lease their park, requiring owners to notify the residents’ association and the Department of Business Regulation of bona fide offers and allow time to match the terms.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LOBBYING REFORM ACT - Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.

PUBLIC RECORDS -- ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS - Clarifies the right of the public to have access to bulk electronic data processing records, compilations of electronic court records, including the Rhode Island adult criminal database and the Rhode Island traffic tribunal database extract.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998 -- COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING PRODUCTION AND REHABILITATION ACT OF 2004 - Affordable housing includes an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) where it’s a long-term rental unit in a municipality with no ordinance requiring a minimum lot size for ADUs.

HUMAN SERVICES -- HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM - Creates a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low-barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services.