Amends the terms of the pension plan set forth in the respective collective bargaining agreements in effect on July 1, 2026, between Central Falls and the labor organizations representing members of the Central Falls plan.
Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.
SB 3297 amends the state workers' compensation law to clarify definitions and expand the authority of the workers' compensation court. The bill updates how "earnings capacity" is calculated for injured workers, specifying that courts can consider an employee's ability to work based on their functional impairment without requiring the employer to identify specific job offers. It also clarifies who qualifies as an "employee" and "employer," including state agencies and contractors, while explicitly excluding independent contractors, sole proprietors, and corporate officers. Additionally, the legislation grants the court broader powers to enforce its orders and manage disputes regarding liability, disability status, and medical causation for cases filed after July 1, 2025.
Authorizes the state retirement board to revoke or reduce an individual’s pension benefit if that individual is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to a felony sex crime related to their public office or public employment.
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.
Ensures that more developmentally disabled adults can self-direct the care they need and want, by incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program.
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.
Requires employers to provide each employee of a warehouse distribution center, upon hire, with written description of quotas applicable to the employee within defined time periods and adverse employment action for failure to meet the quota.
Places limits on the number of self-service checkout stations a grocery store can have and on the workload of employees assigned to monitor those checkout stations.
Amends the Rhode Island works program to increases the monthly cash benefit to one hundred percent (100%) of the federal poverty level effective July 1, 2026.
