Rep. Bill O'Brien

Adds probation officer and parole officer to the list of public safety employees that are entitled to their full salary if they are injured and become disabled as a result of performance of their job duties.

Restore the rights of school administrators and staff members, who have retired to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment and work up to one hundred eighty (180) days during a school year.

Maddy summaryHB 8185 amends pension benefits for Rhode Island State Police members. It directly affects both current officers still serving and former members who have retired. The bill modifies the existing pension benefit structure, though the abstract does not specify the exact nature of the changes to the benefits. This is a policy change focused on retirement compensation for state police personnel.

Provides that retirees in the state pension system receive cost of living adjustments compounded into the retiree’s total retirement benefits each year beginning January 1, 2026. This act would be prospective only.

Allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least twenty-eight (28) years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number eighty-five (85).

Changes the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2012, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2012, cutoff date.

Maddy summaryHB 7395 allows retired members of the Rhode Island state labor relations board to continue receiving their retirement pension while working paid positions with the state. This amendment specifically permits them to maintain full pension benefits during such employment without suspension, though no additional retirement credits or contributions are granted. Monthly reporting to the retirement board is required for these positions. The bill targets a gap in existing rules, ensuring labor relations board members can serve in paid roles without losing pension eligibility.

Reinstates, for all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment for retirement plan year 2026.

Creates a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees.

Maddy summaryHB 7958 requires that all contracts for capital improvements (such as new construction or major renovations) at healthcare facilities must comply with the fair employment practices standards outlined in chapter 13 of title 37. This directly affects healthcare facilities and their construction contractors by mandating adherence to existing non-discrimination and equal opportunity rules in hiring and employment. The key mechanism is applying these established labor standards to capital improvement contracts, ensuring they include protections against employment discrimination. The bill does not create new requirements but extends current fair employment practices to this specific contracting context. It was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Labor committee.