Rhode Island

MOTOR AND MOTOR VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES - Allows any vehicle eligible for registration with a gross weight of under eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) as long it is accompanied by a registrant's affidavit declaring it would not be used for commercial purposes.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS - Authorizes a blanket permit and fee to allow the movement of self-propelled cranes which are in excess of size and weight load requirements, to move on state highways.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND CLEAN HEAT STANDARD ACT - Creates the Rhode Island clean heat standards act to implement a system of tradeable clean heat credits earned from the delivery of clean heat measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS IN CHILDREN RELIEF FUND - Establishes Children's Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide finance assistance to families for medical expenses not covered by state or federal programs or insurance contract.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN - Requires EOHHS to provide self-measured blood pressure monitoring for eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, covering home monitors, training, data transmission, and co-interventions, with state funds if federal aid is unavailable.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LICENSES - Allows a brewery to sell, deliver, and distribute its own malt beverages directly to retailers without using a wholesaler. The holder of a license for a brewery may also have 1 additional location for the retail sale of alcohol.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MERIT SYSTEM - Amends the OPA desk audit classification rules to eliminate supervising other employees as a factor for position upgrade eligibility.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND CENTER FOR EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP - Establishes the Rhode Island center for employee ownership to facilitate businesses in transitioning to an employee-owned business model.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS' DUE PROCESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY ACT - Amends the Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability, and Transparency Act" by changing the provision for payment of legal fees.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RHODE ISLAND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACT - Creates the RI Pedestrian Safety Act allows cities and town to use automated safety monitoring which a civil fine of $50 for violations.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT - Repeals 42-56-38.1 and requires the department of corrections to provide free communication services to inmates and juveniles held in residential placement or detention centers and requires that those facilities provide in-person contact visits.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2004 -- HEALTH INSURANCE OVERSIGHT - Regulates price increases for prescription drugs.

EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM - Requires the development of a comprehensive collaborative course that provides students with accurate information and instruction on risks of wildfires while creating action plan to mitigate loss in case of a wildfire in all K-12 schools within the state.

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.

TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEMS PRODUCTS - Defines “electronic nicotine-delivery system shop” and requires that ten percent (10%) of sales revenue from said shops be transferred to the tobacco cessation programs pursuant to § 27-20-53.

INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS - Prohibits health insurance providers from requiring preauthorization for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services.

INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT - Limits the use by insurers of step therapy, a protocol that establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs for a specified medical condition are covered by an insurer, by allowing medical providers to request step therapy exceptions.

INSURANCE -- PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS - Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under a health plan as of January 1, 2027.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS - Changes the retirement allowance based on accrued benefits.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- EQUAL PAY FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS - Requires the state and private health insurers to reimburse claims for healthcare services provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants at the same amount as the reimbursement paid to a physician performing the service in the area served.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES - Authorizes retired police officers and firefighters to earn income in addition to their earnable compensation; provided that, the amount would not exceed 5 times the rate of earnable compensation currently in force.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT - Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.