Rhode Island

FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LICENSING - Allows any member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Rhode Island to receive recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses free of charge.

ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES - Requires party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president within 30 days of notice of vacancy in a municipal election office and mayor/council president are required to make a replacement nomination within 30 days.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT - Revises sections of the uniform controlled substances act to remove specific opioid dosage requirements and revises the uniform controlled substances act in accordance with current standards of professional practice.

TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX - Provides the tax administration may prescribe regulations requiring returns of information to be made and filed on or before Feb 28 of each year consistent with applicable thresholds for information filings under the federal Internal Revenue Code.

PUBLIC FINANCE -- RHODE ISLAND SECURE CHOICE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PROGRAM ACT - Makes several technical amendments to the Rhode Island secure choice retirement savings program act necessary for continued administration and inter-state partnership.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS - Makes the bridge over Smith Street and Route 95, the George Nee Bridge.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT - Changes the term of drug court to recovery court.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS - Provides a series of updates to size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- OVERSIGHT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT - Establishes regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care treatments.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GENERAL PROVISIONS - Further delineate the definitions of felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor.

EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT - Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse.

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS -- MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS - Changes the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist.

INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES - Expands guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Requires that reimbursement rates for licensed mobile response and stabilization services be equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilizations services as established by EOHHS.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION - Prohibits the operation of any thermal waste conversion facility such as pyrolysis within the Quonset Point/Davisville Industrial Park and expires on June 1, 2027.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MUNICIPAL POLICE ARBITRATION - Extends provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement for municipal police arbitration purposes until a successor agreement is reached or an interest arbitration award is rendered.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANION MODELS - Creates additional safety features for AI companion technology that include addressing suicidal ideation, potential physical harm or financial harm to others expressed by a user. It also requires notification the AI companion does not have human emotions.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGULATION OF BUSINESS PRACTICES AMONG MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND DEALERS - Extends certain protocols applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, as well as updates warranty reimbursement and recalls obligation policies.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS NOTIFICATION ACT - Requires healthcare providers and healthcare facilities to inform patients of the use of artificial intelligence to memorialize patient visits.

INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE -- FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES - Imposes certain duties, transparency, and accountability from pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacy benefits management services.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT - Establishes the healthcare worker platform and would require platforms offering healthcare shifts to register with the department of health by June 1, 2027, while, specifically, exempting them from being classified as nursing service agencies.