Tina Spears

Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.

Amends the regulations on the cancellation and renewal of liability and property damage insurance for automobiles, homeowners insurance, residential fire insurance and components thereof.

Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

Facilitates the study of thermal energy technology to determine if these goals can be met by the implementation of thermal energy networks in Rhode Island.

Updates the state’s public accountancy act for consistency with the 9th edition of the Uniform Accountancy Act, as issued by NASBA and AICPA in July 2025.

Provides that no train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons and includes the imposition of fines upon a company, individual or business for violations.

Raises the percentage from eighty percent (80%) to eighty-five percent (85%) regarding declaring a vehicle a total loss.

VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF CHARLIE'S OIL CO., INC.

VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF LOS TOROS RECORDS, INC.

Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.

Updates the state’s public accountancy act for consistency with the 9th edition of the Uniform Accountancy Act, as issued by NASBA and AICPA in July 2025.

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.

Makes a series of amendments and adds new provisions of law to address business identity theft and deceptive solicitations sent to businesses and the unauthorized formation of entities.

VACATE THE FORFEITURE OR REVOCATION OF THE CHARTER OF LOS TOROS BAND, INC.

Raises the percentage from eighty percent (80%) to eighty-five percent (85%) regarding declaring a vehicle a total loss.

Provides that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement as prima facie evidence that a lessee was the vehicle operator.

Prohibits health insurance companies or other payors from including in physician participation agreements any provisions that restrict or prevent a physician from charging patients reasonable administrative or operational fees to support overhead.

Establishes enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries to preclude the library from being subject to unfair sales practices.

Establishes the thermal energy network & jobs act facilitating study of the technology to determine if goals can be met by implementing thermal energy networks in Rhode Island/creates a task force of interested parties to be an advisory committee.

Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.

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.

Provides protocols for radon inspection relative to real estate transactions and provides time frames and conditions for testing and mitigation.

Adds property damage to statutory underinsured motor coverage, rather than just uninsured motorist coverage, as it is presently.

Provides for the operation and duties of natural organic reduction for the contained, accelerated conversion of human remains to soil. Disposition facilities would be used for either cremation or natural organic reduction.

Permits reimbursement for dental hygienists from "other insurance" or a third-party payor such as Medicare.

Amends sections of the Rhode Island Cannabis Act relative to proof of residency terminology, and amends the definition of applicant and provides a new process for the approval and certification for social equity and cannabis retail sales licenses.

Provides an update to certain insurance sections of law to update or eliminate outdated sections of the insurance law.

Replaces the existing limited liability company act with a newer and updated model act.

Establishes requirements for capital, liquidity, and corporate governance including: audit, risk management, and board oversight, for nonbank mortgage servicers.

Requires any person in the business of selling, assigning or buying an equitable interest in real estate without taking legal title to such property, to be licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson and to comply with the disclosure requirements.

Amends the state’s online E-Permitting Portal using automated plan review and instant permit issuance.

Excludes portable solar generation devices intended primarily to offset part of a customer's electricity consumption from the definition of eligible net-metering system.

Establishes requirements for capital, liquidity, and corporate governance including: audit, risk management, and board oversight, for nonbank mortgage servicers.

Reduces funeral home inspections from twice a year to once a year.

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.

Provides protocols for radon inspection relative to real estate transactions and provides time frames and conditions for testing and mitigation.

Provides that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, registration penalties, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement as prima facie evidence against a lessee.

Amends the regulations on the cancellation and renewal of liability and property damage insurance for automobiles, homeowners insurance, residential fire insurance and components thereof.

Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.

Requires any person in the business of selling, assigning or buying an equitable interest in real estate without taking legal title to such property, to be licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson and to comply with the disclosure requirements.

Allows the town of Tiverton to authorize, by ordinance, a real estate tax credit for seniors over the age of sixty-five (65) years.

Changes tax exemptions to tax credits in the city of Cranston.

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR AND ALTERATION OF PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Grants the city of Warwick the authority to sell the property located at 34 Warwick Lake Avenue, without regard for statutory limitations pursuant to § 45-2-6, to clear the title to said property.

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE REPAIR, CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF STORM DRAINS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE REMEDIATION AND MITIGATION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOODING PROBLEMS, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Authorizes the town of Coventry to apportion the tax levy proportionately between residential and commercial properties.

Allows for the issuance of a Class B license for the property located at 102 Granite Street, in the town of Westerly.

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND BRIDGES IN THE CITY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAVING, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, ROAD MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND LANDSCAPING AND ALL COSTS INCIDENTAL OR RELATED THERETO BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Amos House, provided it remains a qualified tax-exempt corporation pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

Adds the town of Tiverton 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.

Amends the act which incorporated the North Tiverton fire district and reduces the number of tax assessors, subsequent to any voluntary resignations, from six (6) to four (4) after the annual 2026 meeting.

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION AND REPAIR OF FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center, located in the city of Providence.

Authorizes the town council of Little Compton to establish a homestead exemption for residential dwellings.

Names the new coveside dog park, located at Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park."

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Community MusicWorks located in the city of Providence.

Allows the town of Tiverton to apply different tax rates to all classes of property.

Sets the zoning statewide for “family child care homes” to no fewer than twelve (12) children maximum.

Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.