Alex Finkelman D

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $991,000 For The Town Of Middletown (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $991,000 For The Town Of Middletown To Upgrade The Gymnasium At The New Middletown Middle High School To Serve As A Regional Emergency Shelter.)

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders In Rhode Island (this Resolution Would Make An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders.)

TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES - Makes certain technical amendments /clarifications to the statutes relating to the assessment of real property and the timing and process to appeals thereof.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- EMPLOYEE CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK - Allows applicants for employment in programs operated by the department involving routine contact with patients, residents, or clients without the presence of other employees to apply to a qualified vendor for a national criminal records check.

WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT - Allows the commissioners of the water and sewer commission for the town of Jamestown to limit its public water system's obligation to supply water only within designated and described area as opposed to the entire land area of the town.

TAXATION -- HOUSING FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT ACT OF 2025 - Establishes the Housing Flexible Spending Account Act of 2025 allowing Rhode Island employers to contribute pre-tax income into a housing flexible spending account (H-FSA), for employees to be used for qualified housing expenses.

ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS - Allows retired election officials to work for the state board of elections on a temporary basis in any year in which a statewide, congressional or referendum general election is held.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- THIRD-PARTY LITIGATION FINANCING CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT - Comprehensively regulates the practices of third-party litigation financiers in Rhode Island.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders In Rhode Island (makes An Appropriation Of $1,000,000 To 401 Tech Bridge To Study And Explore Seagliders.)

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $991,000 For The Town Of Middletown (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $991,000 For The Town Of Middletown To Upgrade The Gymnasium At The New Middletown Middle High School To Serve A Regional Emergency Shelter.)

TAXATION -- EMPLOYER TAX CREDITS FOR RETIREMENT PLAN ESTABLISHMENT, PARTICIPATION AND AUTO-ENROLLMENT - Establishes employer tax credits for establishing a retirement plan for employee participation with auto-enrollment.

HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE -- WORK ON HOLIDAYS AND SUNDAYS - Excludes from the definition of an "employee" any individual employed in catering, commissary, or food establishment, for purposes of the provisions requiring payment of wages at one and one-half normal rate of pay for work on holidays and Sundays.

HIGHWAYS -- RELOCATION OF UTILITY SERVICES - Allows the state to require utilities to relocate facilities for certain highway projects and to pay the cost of the relocation to the utility as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS - Allows retired state employees to be reemployed by a municipality with no restrictions and with no loss of their existing retirement benefits.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Authorizes the town of Jamestown to authorize, by ordinance, the expansion of the local tax exemption ordinance for seniors.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- THIRD-PARTY LITIGATION FINANCING CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT - Provides for "litigation financing" regulation by DBR.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES - Amends calculations of interest in civil actions a rate determined by average accepted auction price for last auction of 52 week U.S. treasury bills.