Roger A. Picard

This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to extend the utility termination moratorium for gas and electricity from April 15 to May 1 of each year, with discretion to response to emergencies or customer needs. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Hiking Rhode Island Gas and Electricity Costs by Extending Utility Termination Moratorium by Two More Weeks.

This bill requires radon testing within one year of any residential real estate transaction and the installation of a radon mitigation system if unsafe radon levels are present, at the seller's expense. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Interference in the Real Estate Industry Through a New Mandate on Radon Testing.

This bill is designed to circumvent federal immigration law and state law which states that an immigrant who is convicted of an offense punishable by sentence of a year or more may be deported. This measure reduces the maximum sentence for a misdemeanor by one day, from one year to 364 days. The bill also removes from the definition of a felony those offenses which carry only a fine, but no prison sentence. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening National Security Through Reducing Maximum Misdemeanor Punishments by One Day to Avoid Deporting Immigrants Who Commit Crimes.

Under current law, employees are allowed to take up to 6 weeks of job-protected leave and receive partial wage replacement from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) to bond with a newborn or child newly placed for adoption or foster care, or to care for a family member. This bill increases the maximum temporary caregiver benefit from 6 to 8 weeks over a period of two years. Additionally, the bill increases Temporary Disability Insurance dependent's allowance from $10 each week to $20 each week, or 7% of the individual's benefit rate. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Hiking Employer Costs and Reducing Employment Opportunities by Increasing Maximum Temporary Caregiver Benefits from 6 to 8 Weeks.

This bill enacts the "Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024," prohibiting the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in covered products offered for sale or manufactured in the state. The federal government already monitors PFAS and this measure will place significant burdens on manufacturers in the state, ultimately restricting consumer choice. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Advancing Government Overreach Through a Ban on Products Containing PFAS Substances.

This bill increases existing requirements that landlords give residential tenants prior notice of any rent increase. Landlords must give tenants 60 days' notice (previously 30 days) of any rent increase and 120 days' notice (previously 60 days) for tenants over the age of 62. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Infringing Private Contracting Rights by Increasing Government Mandate Requiring Notice Prior to a Rent Increase for Residential Units from 30 Days to 60 Days.

This bill further expands application of the state's expungement law, allowing for prior felonies to be expunged if the crimes were subsequently reclassified as misdemeanors (even if the crime was a felony at the time it was committed). Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening Public Safety by Allowing Expungement of Felonies Reclassified as Misdemeanor Crimes.

This bill requires grocery stores to specifically limit the number of self-service checkout units to 6 units per location. These provisions would be enforced by the consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Restricting the Free Market and Advancing Government Overreach by Limiting Self-Service Checkout Units at a Grocery Store to 6 Per Location.

This bill provides funds to the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council to support reducing climate emissions. The bill allocates up to $2 million to the council in 2025, and up to $1 million annually in subsequent years. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Funding a Politicized Bureaucratic Council by Appropriating $2 Million in FY 2025 with the Aim of Reducing Climate Emissions.

This bill amends the Rhode Island works program to expand eligibility for pregnant persons, disallow termination of benefits for failing to meet work requirements, and limit monetary sanctions. Additionally, the bill increases monthly cash benefits by changing what is determined as income for eligible families and increasing the payment standard itself to $510 (previously $425) for the first person, $191 (previously $159) for the second person, $164 (previously $137) for the third person, and $125 (previously $104) for remaining individuals. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Dependency by Increasing Cash Benefits and Disallowing Termination for Failure to Work Under the Rhode Island Works Program.

This bill establishes a framework for the licensure of lactation counselors, including requirements for renewal, expiration, termination, refusal, and revocation of licenses. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Employment Barriers for Lactation Counselors Through an Unnecessary Licensing Framework.

This bill requires insurance policies in the state to provide coverage to diagnose and treat infertility for women between 25 and 42 years old, including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Each and every health insurance mandate prevents an individual from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs. As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost. Oppose is the Limited Government.

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating Policies Provide Coverage to Treat Infertility.

This bill is designed to kill an oyster farm that two brothers sought to establish along the Sakonnet River. Specifically, the bill bans commercial activities in the land of the established Sapowet Marsh Management Area and allows the department of environmental management to promote recreation and enter into leases for agricultural use of the land. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weaponizing Government to Block Development of an Oyster Farm by Prohibiting Commercial Activities in Sapowet Marsh.

This bill further expands the state's expungement policy to now allow convicted felons to have up to six misdemeanor offenses expunged from their criminal record. Previously, an individual could expunge up to six misdemeanor offenses only if they have not been convicted of a felony. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening Public Safety by Allowing Felons to Expunge Their Misdemeanor Crimes.

This bill increases the amount of parental and family leave available to an employee who has been employed by the same employer for 12 consecutive months from 13 weeks to 24 weeks in any two calendar years. This government interference drives up employment costs and may come at the expense of job opprotunites, higher wages, and other employee benefits. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Hiking Employer Costs and Reducing Employment Opportunities by Increasing Mandated Parental and Family Leave from 13 to 24 Weeks.

This bill increases frivolous litigation in the workplace by allowing employees to sue employers if they fail to provide a work environment that ensures they are "treated respectfully and with dignity." This measure is enforced through civil remedies for employees, fines against employers and co-employees, and imprisonment. Employers are already incentivized to establish safe and productive work environments, and this government overreach unnecessarily exposes employers to new avenues of frivolous litigation that may be advanced by deviant plaintiffs' attorneys. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Exposing Employers to Frivolous Litigation by Creating New Avenues for Employees to Sue for "Bullying" in the Workplace.

Currently, manufacturers of distilled spirits or wines from outside the state are prohibited from holding or having any interest in a wholesaler's license. This bill expands the restrictions to all manufacturers of intoxicating beverages, including beer, distilled spirits, and wine, regardless of principle place of manufacture. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Expanding Restrictions on Out-of-State Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturers Holding Wholesaler Licenses to Include All Manufacturers of Intoxicating Beverages.

This bill creates the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, a thirteen-member advisory board tasked with advising state leaders on the condition of the nursing home industry, recommend working standards and minimum compensation, and propose new nursing standards. This measure merely represents an effort to grow government interference in the nursing home industry, which often results in one-size-fits-all mandates that drive up nursing home costs. Lawmakers should instead empower the free market by making nursing home care more affordable and accessible by reducing regulations and other anti-competitive measures. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Overreaching Regulations of the Nursing Home Industry Through the Creation of an Ineffectual "Workforce Standards Board".

This bill requires landlords to list all mandatory fees when advertising any residential property for rent in the same section of the agreement as the rent disclosure. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from charging a convenience fee when the tenant pays rent. Oppose is the Limiting Government Position.

Infringing Private Contracts Through a New Government Mandate Prohibiting Landlords from Charging Convenience Fees and Requiring Notice of All Mandatory Fees.

This bill prohibits hospitals and other medical providers from reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies (entities that gather consumer information to generate credit scores). Violators of this provisions may be pursued on behalf of the consumer by the attorney general. Instead of weaponizing government, lawmakers should work to reduce regulations to provide greater access to healthcare and drive down costs for patients. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Imposing Overreaching New Regulations on the Financial Service Industry by Banning Reporting Medical Debt to Credit Score Agencies.

This bill creates a medical debt relief program for the purchase, cancellation, and forgiveness of medical debts of citizens of the state. Under the bill, an individual must have an income of 400% or less than the federal poverty line or more than 5% of their adjusted gross income to be eligible for debt relief. American Rescue Plan Act federal funds will be used to buy medical debt. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Government Dependency and Advancing Wealth Redistribution by Establishing a Medical Debt Relief Program Reliant on Federal Funding.

This bill further grows government dependency by requiring all hospitals to screen uninsured patients for eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid. The bill also creates a pilot program permitting hospitals to provide acute care services for a covered person outside of the hospital's licensed facility. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Dependency by Forcing All Hospital to Screen Uninsured Patients for Medicaid Eligibility.

This bill establishes the Rhode Island drug cost review commission, creating a new bureaucracy authorized with subjecting drug manufacturers to cost reviews and setting price thresholds for both brand-name and generic drugs. Under the bill, drug manufacturers are required to notify the commission of any increase in costs for a drug or if the manufacturer intends to introduce a new drug to the market. The commission is authorized to set a price threshold which triggers manufacturer reporting for prescriptions and if the commission determines the cost of the drug is not affordable, it would establish a payment rate that be billed and paid among payors and pharmacies, wholesalers, distributors, and consumers. These entities are prohibited from paying more than the commission established rate. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Regulatory Power within the Pharmaceutical Industry by Imposing New Price Controls Through the Drug Cost Review Commission.

This bill authorizes the use of automated traffic violation monitoring systems for all traffic signal laws, including the "Don't Block the Box Statute." This measure represents a significant increase in automated traffic systems, which brings up valid concerns regarding civil liberties and the growth of government tracking and surveillance.Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing the Surveillance State by Allowing the Use of Automated Traffic Violation Monitoring Systems to Enforce All Traffic Signal Laws.

This bill requires mail ballot drop boxes to be opened 35 days (previously 20 days) prior to election day, and 20 days prior to special elections. This measure merely extends the timeframe for "ballot misplacement" and "ballot harvesting" to occur surrounding ballot boxes, which undermine the integrity of our nation's electoral process. Lawmakers should instead eliminate all drop boxes to ensure free and fair elections. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening Election Integrity by Extending Mail Ballot Drop Boxes from 20 Days Before an Election to 35 Days.

This bill requires the state to implement and provide sufficient funding to support a mixed-delivery system, including state investments to sustain all state prekindergarten and other early-childhood programs and expanding these models through contracts. The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized to create rules and regulations to implement "high quality, universal prekindergarten" and all local education agencies are required to develop a kindergarten transition strategy. Lastly, the bill requires 30% of funding set-aside for pre-kindergarten expansion funds to expand access to child care and early learning programs for infants and toddlers. It is the role of government to provide education across K-12, not early child care or pre-kindergarten. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Further Growing the Role and Scope of Government by Providing Universal Pre-Kindergarten.

This bill prohibits contractors and subcontractors from paying employees the cash equivalent of any applicable health care benefit in lieu of actually purchasing the health care benefit. Violators will be subjected to civil fines. This bill imposes a new government mandate that infringes on the private contracting rights of employers and employees and subjects employers to new avenues of lawsuit abuse. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Infringing Private Contracting Rights and Reducing Employment Opportunities by Prohibiting Employers from Paying Cash Equivalent in Lieu of Health Benefits.

This bill requires residential landlords to place all security deposits received into a federal insured deposit account earning interest at a rate not less than the prevailing market rate of interest for a regular savings account. All interest accrued shall be the property of the tenant. The bill also establishes a timeframe that landlords must deliver a notice of any due expenses with the security deposit of 20 days after the latter of either termination of the tenancy. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Infringing Private Contracting Rights by Imposing a New Government Mandate on Landlords Requiring Security Deposits be Placed in a Federal Insured Deposit Account.

This bill weakens oversight of interlocal agreements by removing a provision requiring all interlocal agreements be submitted to the attorney general for approval. Under the provision, the attorney general may disapprove of an agreement if it is not in proper form and in compliance with state laws. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Reducing Accountability by Removing Attorney General's Oversight of Interlocal Agreements.

This bill establishes benchmarking for large existing buildings, requiring the tracking and reporting of energy usage in large public buildings and then private buildings in two phases. Additionally, the bill proposes tiers of all-electric new construction, from electric-ready requirements to requirements for public buildings and the local approval of all-electric requirements, to ultimately requiring that all new construction statewide be all-electric, with some exceptions. The free market - not government - is best equipped to determine the need, placement, and amount of all-electric buildings. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Regulatory Burdens and Hiking Constructions Costs Through Benchmarking for Large Buildings and Prohibiting Construction of Non-Electric-Ready Buildings.

This bill reduces the time, from three years to one year, required for a nonimmigrant foreign national student, who has resided in Rhode Island, to be eligible to pay the same in-state tuition as any other Rhode Island Student. College and university-level education should be funded solely through user fees (i.e., tuition) by those who wish to pursue their selected career path. These enormous costs should not be imposed on individuals who elect to pursue activities other than higher education, such as those who start their own businesses or work in the trades. This measure forces taxpayers to further subsidize the higher education costs of foreign nationals and limits opportunities for U.S. residents to enroll in competitive state colleges. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Forcing Taxpayers to Provide More Foreign National Students with In-State Tuition Rates at Public Colleges and Universities.

This bill establishes a process to allow the development of ADUs in the state, however the bill also prohibits property owners from using ADUs as short-term rentals for tourist or transient use. This measure infringes on property rights and represents a textbook example of government overreach. While this bill was designed as an effort to expand availability of "affordable housing", lawmakers should instead allow the free-market to reduce housing costs by eliminating zoning and regulatory barriers that prohibit housing development. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Infringing Property Rights by Prohibiting the Use of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as Short-Term Rentals.

This bill expands the type of jobs that require an electrical contractor's license to include installing and servicing lighting, control of electrical devices, handling and removal for installation or reinstallation of all electrical equipment, and more. Government mandates and regulations merely restrict competition and drive-up costs for all electric services. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Employment Barriers and Hiking Constructions Costs by Expanding Scope of Duties Requiring Electrical Contractor's License.

Rhode Island law requires every person, before being awarded a state contract more than $150,000, must furnish a bond of that person to the state in a sum not less than 50% of the contract price. Previously, waiver of the bonding requirements was expressly prohibited. This bill allows the state to waive the bonding requirement for minority business enterprises or women owned businesses for a public works project up to $250,000. The original bonding requirements acted as a protection if the contractor can't complete the project. Waiving the protection based on unrelated characteristics such as race and gender merely places taxpayer resources at risk. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Putting Taxpayer Funds at Risk Through Government-Approved Discrimination by Waiving Public Project Bonding Requirements for Minority- or Women-Owned Businesses.

This bill establishes a regulatory framework for outdoor dining in the state, allowing restaurants to offer outdoor dining if they follow the Rhode Island safety codes and regulations. While the bill does allow localities to limit outdoor dining on public property, limit outdoor dining capacity, and require barriers, it restricts a municipality from outright banning outdoor dining. Additionally, a locality is prohibited from limiting the time of year outdoor dining may be offered, restricting hours of operation, or requiring new parking standards. This bill serves as a step in the right direction to protect business operations and promote competition within the restaurant industry. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Making Permanent Outdoor Dining by Establishing a Legal and Regulatory Framework Protecting Restaurants from Overreaching Localities.

This bill is designed to circumvent enforcement of a potential repeal of Obamacare's prohibition on annual and lifetime limits. Specifically, the bill removes the authority of the health insurance commissioner to enforce any act of Congress, or any decision of a federal court, invalidating or repealing the prohibition of annual lifetime limits on health insurance in the state. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Ensuring Government Control Over Healthcare by Refusing to Enforce a Repeal of Obamacare Annual and Lifetime Limits.

The Euer amendment to a bill amending the comprehensive community-police relationship act of 2015. This amendment requires law enforcement officers to track the race and gender of all traffic stops. Organizations are permitted to sue any police department who fails to collect tis data. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Exposing Law Enforcement to Frivolous Litigation Through an Unnecessary and Politicized Mandate Requiring Officer's to Track Race and Gender of Traffic Stops.

This bill establishes the Rhode Island Retirement Savings Program Act, forcing private employers who do not currently offer a retirement plan to provide access to the secure choice retirement program. Under the bill, employees will be automatically enrolled and must opt-out. The private sector and businesses are best equipped to determine and implement their own retirement plans. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Advancing a Government Take-Over of the Private Sector Retirement System Through the Establishment of a Public Retirement Savings Program.

This bill implements a $13.963 billion budget for fiscal year 2025. This budget is chock full of frivolous spending, including raising Medicaid reimbursement rates, a $120 million affordable housing bond, and a $21 million increase in higher education funding. The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, as, when coupled with the over $185 trillion federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through a $13.963 Billion Budget Funding Affordable Housing Bonds, Higher Education, and Increased Medicaid Reimbursement Rates.

This bill requires climate change, sea-level rise, and coastal resiliency to be considered in the strategic plan for economic development policy set forth by the Economic Development Planning Council. Instead of attempting to centrally plan the economy, lawmakers should reduce costly regulations to allow the free market to provide greater job and business growth. This measure is designed to advance a politicized environmental agenda, creating further barriers to economic development spearheaded by a group of unelected bureaucrats. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Threatening Businesses with Overreaching Regulations and Higher Costs by Requiring Climate Change be Considered in Economic Development Planning.

This bill prohibits auto insurance companies from refusing to use after-market parts that are greater than 48 months and less than 72 months from the date of the manufacture, provided the repairer has written consent from the owner of the vehicle. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Hiking Auto Insurance Premiums by Mandating Insurers Allow After-Market Parts in Vehicle Repairs.

This bill requires that firearms be stored in secured or locked containers or be equipped with a tamper-resistant lock or other safety device, subject to fines and/or imprisonment for violations. Additionally, the bill expands what firearms are required to be sold with a trigger lock to include rifles and shotguns, and mandates that firearm dealers post information signs regarding secure firearm storage. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Overreach by Implementing Storage Requirements for Firearms in Residences.

This bill removes the minimum wage exemption for domestic workers in the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act. Previously, domestic workers were not considered "employees" under the RIPWA and were only guaranteed the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Rhode Island minimum wage is currently $14 per hour and is set to increase to $15 per hour in 2025. Domestic workers typically receive many other non-traditional benefits such as housing, food, transportation access, etc. This bill will likely result in many families no longer being able to financially support caregivers for children, aging parents, etc. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Reducing Employment Opportunities for Caregivers and Hiking Costs for Families by Expanding Minimum Wage Laws to Include Domestic Workers.

This resolution requests a report by the executive climate coordinating council (EC4) on benchmarking and building performance standards. The report must include a summary of the State's building sector emissions, an inventory of properties that would be subject to benchmarking requirements, the estimated costs for compliance with benchmarking, and more. This measure is merely the first step towards stringent environmental regulations that ultimately drive-up consumer costs. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Further Threatening Businesses with Higher Costs by Requesting the Executive Climate Council Report Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards.

This bill allows non-affiliated party voters to vote in party primaries, without becoming an affiliated party voter. This measure enables individuals who intentionally vote in a party's primary so that the less viable or principled candidate is nominated. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening Election Integrity by Allowing Non-Affiliated Voters to Engage in Rigging Party Primaries.

This bill eliminates requirements of signing ballots with an "X" for voters who cannot sign their name due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Weakening Election Integrity by Eliminating Signature Requirements for Disabled or Illiterate Voters.

This bill allows the attorney general to seek an injuction, restitution, damages, and penalties of up to $10k per violation and/or the cancellation of a certificate to do business in the state in response to "repeated illegal acts, or… persistent illegality in the carrying on, conducting or transaction of business or governmental activity." The bill empowers the AG to take proof and make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue civil investigate demands without a court order. While any business found to commit a criminal act should be held accountable under the law, this measure instead provides the AG with overly broad authority that conflicts with existing laws and overlaps powers with other state agencies. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Providing the Attorney General Overreaching and Duplicative New Powers to Pursue Civil Actions Against Businesses Without a Court Order.

Under previous law, independent contractors were required to file a designation notice with the director of labor and training annually. This bill additionally requires independent contractors to file a form annually for each hiring entity that retains their services. Additionally, the bill withdraws the designation as an independent contractor if the person fails to submit an annual filing after receipt of a 20-day notice issued by the director for failure to file an annual designation. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Subjecting Independent Contractors to Further Regulatory Burdens by Requiring Submission of Separate Notices for Each Entity.

This bill allows for the confinement of egg laying hens kept for commercial egg production. The provision is set to end in 2030. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Combatting Government Overreach by Allowing for Confinement of Egg Laying Hens for Commercial Egg Production.

This bill prohibits nearly all noncompetition agreements in the state, except for those entered into as part of a sale of a business. This bill imposes a new government mandate that infringes on the private contracting rights of employers and employees. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Infringing Private Contracting Rights and Reducing Employment Opportunities by Banning Noncompetition Agreements.

This bill, in regard to motion picture production tax credits, clarifies that all costs of goods used and services performed in Rhode Island shall qualify as state-certified productions costs. Additionally, the bill requires vendors providing goods and services in the state to a motion picture production company to comply with state laws, such as registering with the secretary of state. Lastly, the bill stipulates that vendors from out-of-state will not disqualify a motion picture production company's eligibility for the tax credit. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Worsening Cronyism by Expanding the Motion Picture Production Tax Credits Through a Broadened Definition of State-Certified Production Costs.

This bill establishes a new regulatory framework for companies and drivers providing non-emergency medical transportation services through coordination with the state's health and human service agencies. This bill further grows government power and the regulatory state. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

ILA

Roger A. Picard