Labor & Employment

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 8, 2026

SB 2318: AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- WORKERS' COOPERATIVES

Clarifies the role of a corporation electing to be governed as a workers' cooperative to allow it to operate as a hiring hall under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies workers' cooperative operation as hiring halls, enabling worker-controlled employment models that protect rights and strengthen cooperative employment standards.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7330: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS

Allows private employees at nursing homes, developmental disability and home care providers whose salaries are 90% funded with federal or state monies to be eligible to opt into the state healthcare plan.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands state healthcare plan eligibility for employees at publicly funded care facilities, increasing access to benefits for workers in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands healthcare benefits access for eligible workers in state-funded facilities, aligning with worker benefit protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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died · Rhode Island · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 7021: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS-VEHICLE SAFETY BARRIERS

Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishments when new construction or renovations are being done and permits insurers to consider the installation to provide a discount on the owner's insurance policy.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires vehicle barriers in retail establishments, enhancing workplace safety standards for employees per bill summary.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 28, 2026

HB 7317: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RHODE ISLAND EARLY EDUCATOR WORKFORCE ACT

HB 7317, the Rhode Island Early Educator Workforce Act, directs the Department of Human Services and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to collaborate on managing existing programs supporting early childhood educators. It specifically requires maintaining the Child Care WAGE$ program with at least $1 million annually to provide salary supplements for educators in licensed childcare centers and family childcare homes, while also overseeing workforce development scholarships (T.E.A.C.H.) and registered apprenticeships. The bill directly affects early educators in Rhode Island’s licensed childcare and early learning programs, who currently earn an average of $16.74 per hour - among the lowest wages in the state. These provisions aim to improve retention and compensation by aligning early educator wages with K-12 standards through existing, research-backed programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly funds early educator salaries via WAGE$ program with $1M+ annual mandate, supporting workforce development and educator compensation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates $1M+ annual funding for salary supplements to early educators via Child Care WAGE$ program, directly supporting wage increases for childcare workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers Workforce Development

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 2170: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT SECURITY -- BENEFITS

SB 2170 would allow workers who are on strike or locked out by their employer during a labor dispute to receive unemployment benefits. This directly affects employees participating in strikes or facing workplace lockouts due to labor disagreements. The bill changes current rules by expanding eligibility for unemployment benefits to cover these specific situations. It aims to provide financial support to workers during active labor disputes, rather than requiring them to exhaust other options first.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits to striking/locked-out workers, directly protecting their financial security during labor disputes per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Unemployment

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 7444: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS

HB 7444 updates retirement calculations for police officers and firefighters in the state. It changes the formula used to determine retirement allowances, effective July 1, 2026, by adding a 2.5% multiplier on final salary for service years after June 30, 2026. Members retiring after this date will receive their accrued benefit as of June 2026 plus the new 2.5% calculation for future service. A special provision preserves the previous benefit formula for those retiring at age 57 with 30+ years of service.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases retirement benefits for police/firefighters via 2.5% multiplier, expanding employment benefits for specific public safety workforce.85% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 2408: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

Commencing January 1, 2027, this act would increase the minimum wage for employees receiving gratuities, from the current three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) to six dollars and seventy-five cents ($6.75) per hour.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases tipped workers' minimum wage from $3.89 to $6.75/hr, directly advancing wage standards for labor.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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died · Rhode Island · House May 14, 2026

HB 7394: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

HB 7394 requires Rhode Island's Department of Human Services to automatically enroll families receiving cash assistance under the Rhode Island Works Program (Section 40-5.2-11) into SNAP benefits if they meet SNAP's standard eligibility requirements. This change eliminates the need for separate SNAP applications for qualifying families already approved for cash assistance. The bill directly affects low-income households receiving state cash aid who would otherwise need to apply separately for food assistance. It streamlines access to nutrition benefits by linking eligibility determinations between the two programs, with no new benefit amounts or requirements added. The policy takes effect upon passage, applying to all families meeting both programs' criteria.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAutomatically enrolls cash aid recipients into SNAP, expanding access to food benefits for low-income households, directly supporting employment-related financial stability.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 7159: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- ORGAN-DONATION LEAVE ACT

Provides for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ and duration of the leave is dependent on the type of donation and notice should be provided to the employer at least thirty (30) days prior to the leave.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid leave for organ donation, expanding employee benefits and protecting workers' rights during medical procedures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

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died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7362: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- HEALTH AND SAFE FAMILIES WORKPLACES ACT--WORKWEEK

Mandates the workweek be reduced to 32 hrs. Rate of pay for a 32 hr workweek remains the same as the rate of pay for 40 hrs. Work in excess of 32 hrs in any one workweek qualify for overtime pay. Does not apply to employers with less than 500 employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 32-hour workweek with same pay as 40 hours, requiring overtime after 32 hours, strengthening worker compensation and work-life balance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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