Bans the sale of parrots at pet stores from a breeder or broker. The pet store may sell parrots obtained from animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations. The sale would also be prohibited at any outdoor markets or retail parking lots.
HB 5945 creates a new job classification for specialized information technology positions within Rhode Island's state government, directly affecting IT workers in the Division of Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services (ETSS). It allows the state personnel administrator to establish or modify these IT job titles, pay grades, and descriptions without public hearings or governor approval - unlike standard personnel rules. The administrator must submit a detailed report to the governor and legislative committees within 30 days, including the position's title, description, and necessity. This provision excludes IT roles covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Prohibits force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or the hiring of another to engage in force-feeding of a poultry product. Violations would be subject to a civil penalty of $500 per violation.
Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.
HB 5941 establishes a voluntary portable benefit plan for independent contractors, allowing them to access benefits like health insurance or retirement savings through a plan not tied to any single employer. The bill defines a "portable benefit plan" as an insurance product assigned to an individual, administered by either government or private entities, with contributions remaining voluntary and not affecting employment classification. Crucially, it prohibits using contributions to determine if a worker is an employee or to create employer liability for benefits like workers’ compensation. The plan aims to provide independent contractors - common in gig economy roles - with consistent access to benefits across different jobs, without altering their legal status.
Prohibits a person to sell, offer for sale, display for sale or otherwise distribute a farmed animal fur product within the state and provides graduated civil penalties for violations.
HB 5682 clarifies that worker cooperatives can operate as hiring halls for skilled labor by allowing them to specify in their founding documents that members provide labor as independent contractors. This directly affects worker cooperatives seeking to function as hiring halls, ensuring members maintain independent contractor status when performing contract work for other entities. The key provision requires cooperatives to formally declare this structure in their articles of incorporation or bylaws. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage, enabling clearer legal operation without changing worker classification.
SB 90 legalizes the sale of raw milk within Rhode Island by amending the Milk Sanitation Code to remove the requirement that all milk must be pasteurized before sale. This directly affects dairy producers who can now sell raw milk directly to consumers, and consumers who gain access to raw milk products. The bill maintains existing safety standards, such as requiring milk to come from healthy animals and be produced under sanitary conditions, but explicitly allows raw milk sales (with an exception for goat milk requiring a physician's written prescription). It does not change other regulations like bacterial testing requirements for milk plants or labeling rules.
SB 648 requires veterinarians to provide a consultation to pet owners whenever they prescribe or dispense medication for an animal patient during an outpatient visit. The consultation must cover the drug's name, dosage, administration instructions, storage, actions for missed doses, and serious side effects, including manufacturer warnings when available. Veterinarians may delegate this task to vet technicians or assistants and must document whether the consultation was offered or declined in the animal's medical record. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and directly affects veterinarians and their clients by standardizing medication communication.
SB 755 designates rhythm and blues (defined as music blending pop, soul, funk, hip-hop, and electronic elements) as the state's official music. This procedural bill directly affects state symbolism and public representation, not policy or funding. The measure would take effect immediately upon passage and requires no further legislative action beyond approval. The bill is currently pending further study after a committee hearing.
Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.
Creates an 11-member commission to study and provide recommendations to safeguard Rhode Island against use of nuclear weapons, and who would report back no later than August 6, 2026, and whose life would expire on November 6, 2026.
