Imposes a seventy-five cent (0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.
Exempts urban and small farmers from sales taxes, real, tangible and personal property taxes and income taxes. It also defines urban and small farmers and urban farmland.
Amends works program to provide eligibility for benefits to pregnant persons from onset of pregnancy including lawful permanent residents, increases monthly cash benefits, disallows termination of benefits for failure to work, limits monetary sanctions.
Allows an individual school district that can utilize its own buses or vendors at a lower cost than the statewide system, to obtain reimbursement for these costs from state funds.
Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.
Requires that healthcare entities and network plans, eff. 1/1/25, include provision in every contract with a provider of mental health/substance use disorders that rates paid pursuant to the contract would be subject to a rate increase at least annually.
Ensures that independent pharmacies are protected from pharmacy benefit discrimination toward non-affiliated pharmacies and helps protect consumers' ability to choose local, independent pharmacies.
Outlines the requirements and process for LEAs to get written parental consent before conducting an evaluation, reevaluation, making an initial placement/changes in placement/the individual education program of a student in a special education program.
Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles.
Requires specific actions and procedures that a public school district or the department of elementary and secondary education shall follow as a part of their proposal to phase out, merge or close a public school.