HB 7727 establishes a 15-member commission to study policies and procurement structures for Rhode Island's offshore wind energy development, aiming to secure 1,200 megawatts by 2030. The commission will evaluate key areas including procurement authority, cost containment, workforce development, infrastructure needs, and multi-state coordination, with annual reports due starting in 2027. Its recommendations will guide the state's energy office in creating regulations to implement procurement strategies, ensuring alignment with climate goals and economic development priorities. The commission expires December 31, 2030, unless extended by the legislature.
HB 7958 requires that all contracts for capital improvements (such as new construction or major renovations) at healthcare facilities must comply with the fair employment practices standards outlined in chapter 13 of title 37. This directly affects healthcare facilities and their construction contractors by mandating adherence to existing non-discrimination and equal opportunity rules in hiring and employment. The key mechanism is applying these established labor standards to capital improvement contracts, ensuring they include protections against employment discrimination. The bill does not create new requirements but extends current fair employment practices to this specific contracting context. It was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Labor committee.
SB 2545 adds the positions of administrator of community confinement and home confinement coordinator to the state retirement system. This change means employees in these correctional roles will now qualify for retirement benefits previously available only to other state correctional staff. The bill amends existing retirement law to explicitly include these two job titles in the eligibility list. The change takes effect upon the bill's passage and does not alter retirement rules for other positions.
HB 7773 modifies how workers' compensation reimbursement works when an injured employee recovers damages from a third party (like another company or individual responsible for the injury). It requires employees to reimburse employers or insurers for workers' comp payments received, but excludes reimbursement for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or other non-compensable damages. If third-party recovery exceeds compensation paid, benefits may be suspended for a period calculated by dividing the excess by the employee’s weekly rate, though medical benefits continue. The bill also sets a 2-year and 8-month deadline for employees to sue third parties, after which employers can pursue claims and seek reimbursement.
Ensures that the State of Rhode Island adopt the protections afforded under the Occupational Safety and Health Act if its scope or enforcement capacity is diminished.
Creates a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees.
Increases the number of days a retired municipal employee could work in a calendar year without interruption of pension benefits to ninety (90) days or its equivalent of six hundred thirty (630) hours.
Gives teachers who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of 135 days.
Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.
Makes construction contractors civilly liable and/or jointly civilly liable for any claims of wage theft or nonpayment from an employee against the contractor, its subcontractors and any subcontractor.
