HB 8504 Rhode Island House · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

This bill expands the definition of "employee" under Rhode Island's Fair Employment Practices law to include individuals working in domestic service, thereby extending anti-discrimination protections to domestic workers. The legislation updates various legal definitions within the state's employment chapter to clarify terms related to gender identity, race, disability, and religious accommodation. By making these changes, the bill ensures that domestic workers are covered by the same safeguards against discrimination as other employees in the state.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced May 1, 2026 Signed Jun 10, 2026
Floor votes · House Jun 3, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Jun 10, 2026
Signed into law
06/10/2026 Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
06/09/2026 Senate passed in concurrence
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
06/03/2026 House read and passed
lower
May 28, 2026
Legislature · Passed
05/28/2026 Committee recommends passage
legislature
May 21, 2026
Committee
05/21/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
May 1, 2026
Introduced
05/01/2026 Introduced, referred to House Labor
lower
8 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors