Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 2930: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

This bill establishes a new minimum wage of $24.00 per hour for all employers in the state, effective January 1, 2027. It directly affects all employers and employees by setting a mandatory hourly pay floor that must be met or exceeded. The legislation amends existing minimum wage laws to replace the current $16.00 hourly rate with the higher standard. Employers will need to adjust payroll systems and wage policies to comply with this new requirement once it takes effect.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases minimum wage from $16 to $24 per hour, directly strengthening workers' compensation and protecting employee rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SB 2926: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

This bill requires that all contracts for capital improvements at healthcare facilities comply with existing state laws ensuring contractors and subcontractors pay their employees. It directly affects construction companies, subcontractors, and healthcare facilities undertaking projects like construction, renovation, or demolition. The key provision mandates adherence to current wage and payment obligations without creating new rules, simply enforcing existing requirements for these specific projects. This measure ensures that workers on healthcare facility projects receive proper compensation as already required by law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enforces existing wage and payment obligations for contractors and subcontractors at healthcare facilities, protecting workers' right to receive earned wages.85% confidence

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2882: AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS ACT OF 2026

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands self-directed care options for developmentally disabled adults and incorporates collective bargaining rights, improving patient access and autonomy in healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly incorporates collective bargaining rights into self-directed supports program, directly advancing worker organizing and bargaining protections for developmentally disabled adults.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Collective Bargaining Tags People with Disabilities

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 8220: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Creates a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low-barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill addresses homelessness through employment and supportive services, aligning with housing assistance and homelessness prevention indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates paid employment program for homeless individuals, providing wages and connecting to supportive services, advancing employment opportunities and worker benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 2885: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

This bill updates health and safety laws to remove outdated language and clarify requirements for asbestos removal and radon control. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and health officials who manage buildings with potential asbestos or radon hazards. The legislation aims to modernize existing regulations by ensuring current standards are clearly defined and consistently applied. By refining these rules, the bill seeks to improve safety protocols without changing the fundamental approach to managing these environmental risks.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill improves workplace safety standards for asbestos and radon, directly protecting workers' health and safety in occupational settings.75% confidence

died · Rhode Island · House May 12, 2026

HB 8352: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS

Entitles correctional officers with twenty-five (25) years of service and who are at least fifty-five (55) years of age to a non-Medicare-eligible retiree health care insurance benefit.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides health insurance benefits to eligible correctional officers, expanding healthcare coverage for a specific group.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands health insurance benefits for long-serving correctional officers, strengthening worker benefits and protecting employee welfare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SR 2789: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER HEALTHCARE PLAN

Creates an 11-member commission to study and make recommendations on a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and would report quarterly as of September 1, 2026, and submit a final report by September 1, 2027, and expires on December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes commission to study statewide teacher healthcare plan, directly supporting educators by addressing their health benefits and well-being.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates commission to study statewide teacher healthcare plan, indicating intent to expand health coverage for educators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates commission to study statewide teacher healthcare plan, which would expand worker benefits and improve healthcare access for teachers.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 13, 2026

SR 2920: SENATE RESOLUTION URGING STATE AGENCIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO RETIREMENT ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR RHODE ISLAND STATE EMPLOYEES TO ENSURE A SECURE AND DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT

This Senate resolution urges Rhode Island state agencies to expand access to retirement advice and guidance for state employees to help them achieve secure retirements. The bill recommends agencies develop programs offering regular workshops, one-on-one counseling from certified financial advisors, decision-support tools, and multiple communication channels for employees. It specifically encourages prioritizing support for employees facing greater retirement challenges and recommends partnering with qualified financial providers to ensure workers understand their hybrid retirement plans. The resolution also calls for measuring program effectiveness through employee engagement data and encourages employees to assess whether they are on track to receive 80 percent of their pre-retirement income.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands retirement benefits and financial guidance for state employees, strengthening worker benefits and retirement security.85% confidence

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passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2924: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT

This bill allows employees who are not currently represented by a union to form a group for collective bargaining with their employers. To establish such a group, workers must demonstrate majority support by submitting signed cards from at least 30% of employees to request an election, or by obtaining cards from more than 50% of employees to bypass the election process entirely. The legislation also prohibits state management personnel from encouraging or discouraging employees from exercising their rights and requires employers to provide specific employee information to the exclusive bargaining representative. Additionally, the bill mandates that employers notify the bargaining unit representative within five business days of hiring new employees and provides for union orientation sessions for new hires.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enables employees to form collective bargaining groups, strengthening worker organizing rights and collective bargaining capabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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died · Rhode Island · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 2923: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES

Increases the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2029, by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases minimum wage tied to CPI-U, directly strengthening worker compensation and economic security95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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