Arthur Handy

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.

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.

Amends the current law on Alzheimer’s care by enacting a specific list of protocols to be followed and those healthcare facilities subject to the law.

Authorizes the department of health to participate in international public-health collaboration networks.

Establishes the Permanent Joint Study Commission on Aging and Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

JOINT RESOLUTION AMENDING THE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON CHILD CARE IN RHODE ISLAND (Amends the membership of the permanent legislative commission on child care with twenty-seven (27) members to ensure that the state has high quality and affordable childcare and early learning services network.)

Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

Imposes certain duties, transparency, and accountability from pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacy benefits management services.

Requires healthcare providers and healthcare facilities to inform patients of the use of artificial intelligence to memorialize patient visits.

Establishes regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care treatments.

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.

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SLUDGE MANAGEMENT IN RHODE ISLAND (That a special joint legislative commission be created consisting of 21 members and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2027, and said commission expires on June 1, 2027.)

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to apply for certificate of authority from DBR to operate such a business in this state. Empowers the health insurance commissioner to oversee pharmacy benefit managers and penalize violations.

Imposes certain duties, transparency, and accountability from pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacy benefits management services.

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

Permits a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical competency, to provide home services foot care, which includes routine foot and nail care, as well as implementing a plan of care that includes hygiene and fingernails.

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to apply for certificate of authority from the office of health insurance commissioner to operate such a business in this state and empowers the commissioner to oversee pharmacy benefit managers and penalize violations.

Establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.

Provides and clarify procedures for the administration of deep sedation and general anesthesia by certain types of nurses.

Establishes regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care treatments.

Expands guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING RATIOS IN HOSPITALS (Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.)

Prohibits the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.

Establishes, encourages and supports the establishment of family councils and resident councils in managed residential communities providing assisted living services.

Expands guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.

Clarifies and updates language in the office of state medical examiners statute to address outdated or ambiguous language, outdated practices, outdated position titles/qualifications, and ensures compliance with federal HIPAA requirements.

Expands the existing law regarding collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians to allow other healthcare providers to enter into such agreements and removes the definition of “collaborative practice committee.”

Amends the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024 by clarifying enforcement provisions.

HOUSE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM TO DEVELOP A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO REDUCE TICK-BORNE ILLNESS ON BLOCK ISLAND (Creates mechanism for New Shoreham to seek a time limited exemption from certain statewide deer hunting prohibitions.)

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION DATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS (Extends the reporting dates of the legislative study commission on climate change impact and solutions from 5/14/2026 to 5/14/2029.)

Requires the examination for licensing of certified nursing assistants by the department of health to be administered in both English and Spanish.

Requires that reimbursement rates for certified mobile response and stabilization services be equal to or greater than the prevailing integrated state Medicaid rate for mobile response and stabilizations services.

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

Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.

Requires any licensed lab performing blood lead analyses of a child under 6 to be certified by the director and said laboratory must perform this test regardless of the child or child’s parent’s ability to pay and at no cost.

Permits a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical competency, to provide home services foot care, which includes routine foot and nail care, as well as implementing a plan of care that includes hygiene and fingernails.

Repeals the older of the two existing chapters related to speech-language pathologists and audiologists and makes several amendments to reconcile the two statutes into one.

Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

Removes obsolete language and clarifies asbestos abatement and radon control requirements.

Provides and clarifies procedures for the administration of deep sedation and general anesthesia by certain types of nurses.

Requires any licensed lab performing blood lead analyses of a child under 6 to be certified by the director and said laboratory must perform this test regardless of the child or child’s parent’s ability to pay and at no cost.

Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.

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.

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION DATES OF THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND REVIEW THE COST AND STATUS OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND OWNED, VACANT, AND ABANDONED PROPERTIES AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR METHODS TO MITIGATE THE ASSOCIATED EXPENSES (Extends the reporting/expiration dates of the special legislative commission to study/review the cost and status of the State of RI owned, vacant, and abandoned properties and provide recommendations for methods to mitigate the associated expenses.)

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS (Authorizes the appropriation to pay claims.)

JOINT RESOLUTION AMENDING THE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON CHILD CARE IN RHODE ISLAND (Amends the membership of the permanent legislative commission on child care with twenty-seven (27) members to ensure that the state has high quality and affordable childcare and early learning services network.)

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION DATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE ENTIRE AREA OF LAND USE, PRESERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, ENVIRONMENT, AND REGULATION (This resolution would extend the reporting and expiration dates of the special legislative commission to study the entire area of land use, preservation, development, housing, environment, and regulation, from June 8, 2026, to June 10, 2027)

JOINT RESOLUTION REPEALING RHODE ISLAND'S RATIFICATION OF THE CORWIN AMENDMENT (Repeals the General Assembly’s previous ratification of the Corwin Amendment.)

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WATER SUPPLY PLANNING FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES (Creates a special legislative commission to study/provide recommendations for water supply planning for new housing developments in rural communities, whose findings/recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before 6/15/27 and expires 7/1/27.)

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE WATER SUPPLY PLANNING FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES (Creates a special legislative commission to study/provide recommendations for water supply planning for new housing developments in rural communities, whose findings/recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before 6/15/27 and expires 7/1/27.)

Expands the existing law regarding collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians to allow other healthcare providers to enter into such agreements and removes the definition of “collaborative practice committee.”

Allows for the issuance of a Class BV license for the property located at 1814 Broad Street in the city of Cranston.

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.

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.

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.

Repeals the Tiverton tax credit for totally disabled veterans and includes a veteran's unmarried widow or widower for a tax credit in the amount of four hundred dollars ($400) or greater.

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.

Requires shooting ranges to post signs in any area in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741”.

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 department of environmental management to enter into leases of up to forty (40) years at State Pier #9 in Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other ports and marine facilities owned and operated by the department.