Adds probation officer and parole officer to the list of public safety employees that are entitled to their full salary if they are injured and become disabled as a result of performance of their job duties.
Requires employers to protect workers from extreme heat and cold by implementing safety plans, providing paid rest breaks, shade or warmth, drinking water, and protective equipment, ensuring training, and recordkeeping.
Eliminates the "until June 30, 2026" sunset on the increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits.
HB 7696 establishes a tax credit for Rhode Island businesses transitioning to employee ownership structures. It provides up to 50% of eligible conversion costs (capped at $100,000 for worker-owned co-ops or employee ownership trusts, $25,000 for alternate structures) and up to 50% of expansion costs (capped at $25,000) for qualified businesses expanding existing employee ownership models. The credit applies to income tax years 2026-2028 for businesses converting to or expanding employee ownership trusts, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker-owned cooperatives, or defined "alternate equity structures" that meet specific participation and allocation requirements. This directly affects qualifying businesses seeking to shift ownership to employees while retaining community investment.
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.
HB 7594 increases Rhode Island's earned-income tax credit (EITC) rate to 30% for tax years beginning in 2027 and later. This change directly benefits low-to-moderate income workers who qualify for the EITC, providing them with a larger refundable tax credit. The bill amends the state's tax code to adjust the credit percentage while maintaining the existing eligibility rules for qualifying individuals and families. This is a concrete policy change that will increase tax refunds for eligible working residents starting in 2027.
HR 8043 is a non-binding resolution urging the City of Providence to enforce its existing First Source Hiring Ordinance. This ordinance requires businesses receiving public funds (like city contracts or grants) to prioritize hiring from a local job list (First Source) and notify the program before advertising job openings publicly. The resolution states that businesses are not complying with these requirements and the city is not applying penalties - such as contract termination or funding suspension - despite the ordinance's 1986 mandate to connect local residents with jobs. The resolution directs officials to the mayor, city council president, and First Source director to address the enforcement gap.
SB 2735 amends the process for creating and governing project labor agreements (PLAs) used in state public construction projects. It directly affects state contractors and labor unions working on public property and infrastructure projects by changing how these agreements are established and managed. The bill modifies the procedures for developing PLAs, which set wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers on state-funded construction sites. This change aims to streamline the PLA process for state projects without altering the core requirements of the agreements themselves. The bill was introduced to the Senate Labor and Gaming committee on February 27, 2026.
HB 7685 adds probation and parole officers to Rhode Island's list of state law enforcement professionals eligible for retirement benefits under the state retirement system. The bill amends Chapter 36-10 to include these officers in the specific retirement provisions (sections 45-21.2-5 through 45-21.2-13), effective January 1, 2027. This change directly affects Rhode Island probation and parole officers by granting them the same retirement benefits previously available to other law enforcement roles like deputy sheriffs and firefighters. Service credits earned before 2025 will be calculated under prior laws. The bill does not alter contribution rates or other retirement system mechanics.
HB 7683 increases the minimum monthly death benefits for spouses, domestic partners, and former spouses of deceased teachers. The bill raises the lowest benefit tier from $825 to $1,025 per month for those with a deceased member's salary of $17,000 or less, with proportional increases across all salary brackets. It applies to individuals who were living with the deceased teacher at death or receiving support, and who meet age and remarriage requirements. Benefits will adjust annually based on Social Security cost-of-living changes. The bill takes effect upon passage.
