SB 2501 Rhode Island Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

SB 2501 changes when state employees can negotiate salary boosts tied to years of service. Starting July 1, 2026, non-classified state employees (excluding faculty and those already receiving such boosts) will be allowed to negotiate "longevity payments" of 5% after 10 years and 10% after 20 years of service. The bill explicitly ends the current ban on new longevity increases (in place since 2011) and allows future collective bargaining agreements to include these provisions. It applies broadly to state employees across education boards, government agencies, and other state departments.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Last action May 29, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2026

How they voted

304
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 36
May 28, 2026
D Democratic32
30 Yea 2
93% Yea
R Republican4
4 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 29, 2026
Committee
05/29/2026 Referred to House Finance
lower
May 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
05/28/2026 Senate read and passed
upper
May 26, 2026
Legislature · Passed
05/26/2026 Committee recommends passage
legislature
May 13, 2026
Committee
05/13/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
02/06/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Labor and Gaming
upper
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors