Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 7969: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures Rhode Island maintains OSHA workplace safety protections if federal enforcement weakens, directly advancing worker safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workplace Safety

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 2499: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

Creates a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill regulates AI use in workplace to ensure fair employment practices, protecting workers from biased algorithms and advancing labor rights through statutory framework.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates regulatory framework for AI in workplace to ensure fair employment practices, aligning with digital rights protection under technology policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 7801: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL 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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases work flexibility for retirees without pension loss, expanding benefit access for municipal employees under employment standards.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 2537: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS RETIREMENT

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants teachers retirement credit during unpaid leaves, supporting educator retention and job security without restricting benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides service credit during unpaid parental/medical leave, protecting retirement benefits for teachers without requiring full-time service.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Paid Leave

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2502: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects workers from psychological abuse with civil remedies and penalties, directly advancing workplace safety standards under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 7961: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES

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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMakes contractors liable for wage theft, strengthening enforcement against nonpayment - directly protects workers' wage rights per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7857: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EXHAUST SYSTEM INSPECTION AND CLEANING, LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION ACT

Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires licensing/certification for kitchen exhaust system inspections, enhancing workplace safety standards for commercial kitchen workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7968: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

Expands the benefit definitions to include a grandchild and care recipient and increases benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and 12 weeks for 2028 and provides a TDI/TCI opt-in option for self-employed workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands disability benefits to include care recipients, extends benefit period to 10-12 weeks, and adds self-employed opt-in - clearly strengthens worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7820: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

HB 7820 allows individuals convicted of crimes 40 or more years ago to petition courts to clear their criminal records, provided they have no recent charges or convictions and have paid all court fees. The bill creates a new eligibility window (40 years post-conviction) for expungement, excluding violent crimes like murder, sexual assault, and certain robberies or child abuse offenses. This change directly affects older individuals with clean records for decades, removing barriers to employment and housing while requiring court approval based on rehabilitation and public safety considerations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of non-violent old records to remove employment barriers, advancing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes criminal record barriers for older individuals, directly aiding employment access and worker reintegration per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Violent Crime

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 7770: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

Increases the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2029, by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates automatic minimum wage increases tied to CPI-U inflation, directly advancing worker compensation standards per Labor & Employment indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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