Rhode Island

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- MUNICIPAL STREETLIGHT INVESTMENT ACT - Permits the Quonset Development Corporation to acquire, own, maintain, and control all streetlights located within the Quonset Business Park.

ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS - Amends the procedures for the marking and certification of mail ballots by prohibiting anyone but the voter or certain persons close to the voter from handling the mail ballot.

CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND NONPROFIT CORPORATION ACT - Prevents condominium associations and home owner associations from prohibiting the installation of EV charging stations to be installed at the owner's expenses.

PROPERTY -- OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES - Establishes oversight of condominium management committees and property management companies by the department of business regulation.

TAXATION -- TAX SALES - Requires specific notice of the tax sale to the taxpayer with a copy of this § 44-9-10 attached thereto. Failure to do so would render the tax sale null and void.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE - Requires the state building commissioner to implement electronic permitting for any category of state or local permit authorized under state law to significantly impact the expediency of construction and development.

ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS - Increases the role of the DMV in the voter registration and address verification process, by establishing very specific obligations and responsibilities that must be followed before offering an individual an application to register to vote.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DECISIONS, SPECIAL FINDINGS AND ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES - Adds the doctrine of assumption of risk to the current comparative negligence statute.

PROPERTY -- CONDOMINIUM LAW - Causes the enactment of the amendment of § 34-36.1-3.22 to be applicable to condominiums created before July 1, 1982.

ELECTIONS -- RHODE ISLAND FUSION VOTING ACT - Establishes fusion voting in Rhode Island, allowing candidates to appear on ballots as nominees of multiple political parties, for the same office.

PROPERTY -- BY POSSESSION AND PRESCRIPTION - Repeals the provisions of § 34-7-4 regarding rights of footway being acquired by adverse possession.

INSURANCE -- PEER-TO-PEER CAR SHARING PROGRAM ACT - Created a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application.

ELECTIONS -- RANKED CHOICE VOTING - Establishes a system of ranked choice voting whenever a municipality's charter amendment is approved by its voters.

HIGHWAYS -- CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ROADS - Provides that roads located within the Quonset Business Park be under the control of the Quonset Development Corporation.

PROPERTY -- CAPACITY TO HOLD REAL ESTATE - Precludes a legal entity from owning property whose value is over $25,000,000. If the property value exceeds $25,000,000, then the entity must divest a graduated yearly amount over the next 10 years, until value is less than $25,000,000.

ELECTIONS -- RESIDENCE OF INDIVIDUALS IN GOVERNMENT CUSTODY ACT - Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- REAL ESTATE SALES DISCLOSURES - Modifies the real estate sales disclosure form to include the disclosure of “blower door diagnostic air leakage testing” and advises that air leakage testing is recommended prior to purchasing a residential unit.

ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS - Allows early voting ballot application to be completed in person on an electronic poll pad. Voter then issued a ballot to be placed in a state-approved voting device.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT - Permits property owners or contractors to utilize an independent building inspector if the municipality’s building inspector does not inspect the property within twenty days of notification.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Requires that accessory dwelling units be allowed by right only if the property is owner-occupied and has been so occupied for at least 5 years.

INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE -- FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES - Provides for fair pharmacy reimbursement from a pharmacy benefit manager, and also provides anti-discrimination prohibitions in regard to non-affiliated pharmacies or pharmacists.