Link to the RIPEC report on the Governor’s Budget: https://ripec.org/fy2027_budget_proposal_highlights/

​Last Week at the State House 
 The Chamber provided testimony on four bills last week.   
 
Prohibiting Credit Card Surcharges – Opposed Passage 
H 7409 would make it a deceptive trade practice for any retail establishment to impose a surcharge fee on a customer for the use of a credit card.   The Chamber articulated, “Credit card processing fees are not optional or discretionary costs. They are imposed by card networks and payment processors and can represent a significant expense, particularly for businesses operating on thin margins. Today, credit card companies charge between 1.5% - 3.5% per transaction depending upon the card (plus flat transaction fees in some cases).  Preventing businesses from transparently passing along these costs forces them to absorb fees they did not create and cannot control. In practice, this either raises overall prices for all customers—including those who pay with cash—or threatens the financial viability of the business itself.  ...penalizing businesses for passing through credit card processing fees is economically unsound and counterproductive. A fair approach recognizes these fees as a legitimate cost of doing business and allows merchants to address them openly and transparently.”  The bill was held for further study.
 
Workplace Bullying – Opposed Passage 
 
H 7121 would prohibit any type of psychological abuse in the workplace. It would also provide an employee, subject psychological abuse with protections in the workplace and civil remedies against perpetrators of any prohibited activity. This act would further assess civil penalties upon employers. The Chamber explained, “While well meaning, this legislation would place employers in an extremely difficult position and would result in many lawsuits as well as endless investigations. The definition of "psychological abuse" under this bill includes actions such as “mistreatment that has the effect of hurting, weakening, confusing, or frightening a person mentally or emotionally.”  These terms are very subjective. They can mean different things to different people, leaving everyone wondering what they can and cannot do or say in the workplace.  This bill will curtail the ability of any individuals to work together without fear of being sued and will leave businesses conducting endless investigations.  The Committee held the bill for further study. 
 
Restricting Self Service Checkouts – Oppose Passage 
 
H 7290 would limit grocery stores by capping the number of self-service checkout stations they can operate and mandating a minimum ratio of manual checkout stations to self-service checkout stations. Further, it limits the workload and additional duties an employer can assign to an employee that monitors self-service checkout stations.  The Chamber conveyed the message that “Businesses must continually adapt to the marketplace.  Following the “great resignation,” our business community experienced difficulties finding employees, and it still continues to struggle in this area.  One way for the retail industry to adapt is to provide customers with an opportunity to self-check their purchases.  Many customers actually prefer this option.   H.7290 discourages the use of such technology, thus placing a business in a difficult situation of being unable to serve the majority of its customers.  Additionally, and perhaps more disturbingly, the state proposes to enter a particular business and mandate day-to-day operations that are not related to health and safety.  From the business perspective, this is state overreach and creates an environment companies will not want to enter.”  The bill was held for further consideration 
 
32 Hour Work Week – Opposed Passage 
 
H 7362 would reduce the workweek to 32 hours without reduction in pay from a 40 hour week, and require that work in excess of 32 hours in any workweek to qualify for overtime pay.  H 7367 seeks to create a nine member study commission to evaluate reducing the 40 hour workweek to 32 hours.  The sponsor of the bill began her testimony by stating that the study commission (H.7367) is her priority, not H.7362.  She is searching for a way to encourage employers to provide flexibility to employees with the goal of striking a better “work/life balance.” That could mean consideration of a four-day work week of ten hours a day, or other alternatives.  The chamber told Committee members that, in essence, H.7362 requires large employers to give Rhode Island employees 52 additional days of paid vacation or be subject to overtime premium payments.  The Chamber reminded the committee CNBC released a ranking entitled “America’s Top States for Business 2025.  It applied 135 metrics across 10 key categories.  Rhode Island ranked 46th for the cost of doing business, and 46th for business friendly.  The Chamber believes the passage of H.7362 will definitely move Rhode Island further down the list, perhaps to the bottom.  Both bills were held for further study. 
 
 This Week at the State House 
 
The legislature will be in session Tuesday and Wednesday this week, followed by the first of two breaks – February 16th – 20th.  The second break week is scheduled for April 20th -24th. 
 
Wednesday, February 11th  
 
Interest on Overdue  
 
The House Municipal and Government Committee has on its agenda for Wednesday at the Rise (approximately 4:30pm) in Room 135, H.7568 https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7568.pdf   The bill allows municipalities to waive up to $500 in interest on overdue taxes for commercial properties.  Since 2003, cities and towns have had the authority to waive interest on residential properties.  H.7568 adds commercial properties that fall into the same category: (1) The property subject to the overdue payment is the property of the taxpayer and has been for the five (5) years immediately preceding the tax payment which is overdue; (2) The request for a waiver of interest is in writing, signed and dated by the taxpayer; and (3) The taxpayer has made timely payments of taxes to the city or town for the five (5) years immediately preceding the tax payment, which is overdue.  Testimony can be submitted at:  [email protected]  
 
 
What is in the Governor’s Budget? 
 
Article 11 – Affordability 
 
Article 11 addresses a variety of issues intended to save certain residents and the state money.  The summary below is provided by the House Fiscal staff as part of their report to the Finance Committee 
 
Section 1. Pharmacy Benefit Managers. This section creates new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers to disclose to the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner: the percentage of rebates received from manufacturers, the value of rebates passed on to clients, administrative fees received, and information on pricing, operating practices, and utilization. It requires the Office to publish online transparency information on each manager, although the entities may request that the Office designate certain information as trade secrets. This section also requires the Office to analyze the collected information to produce a report on the role of pharmacy benefit managers by October 1, 2027, including comparisons to regulations in other states and recommendations to improve oversight. It authorizes the Office to levy up to $175,000 on health insurance companies for contractors to produce the report.  
 
Section 2. Motor Fuel Tax. This section reduces the total gas tax by two cents, with the reduction coming from the allocation to the Department of Transportation. Currently, two cents of the gas tax was pledged by the 2003 Assembly to provide the state match for projects financed through the Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Program. The bonds have been retired, making the proceeds available for other uses as planned through the Transportation Improvement Program. The Governor’s budget assumes $8.6 million less from gas tax revenues.  
 
Sections 3 and 5. Energy Efficiency Programs. Energy efficiency programs are currently funded through surcharges on gas and electric customers. The surcharges are based on a least-cost procurement provision, which allows the Public Utilities Commission to determine the funding level for investments based on the annual plans for energy efficiency programs that have been reviewed and approved by the Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council. These surcharges generated $125.1 million in calendar year 2024, including $93.8 million from electric and $31.2 million from gas. The article extends the least-cost procurement provision by ten years through 2038, changes the annual planning process every three years, and caps the annual amount customers can be charged to $75.0 million for calendar years 2027 through 2029. Subsequent plans can be adjusted for inflation from the new limit. The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank currently receives an annual allocation of $5.0 million from the funds for clean energy efficiency, energy storage, and other uses. Section 5 reduces that amount to $2.5 million.  
 
Section 4. Electric Distribution Companies. This section requires electric distribution companies that own or operate transmission facilities within the state to be members of ISO New England, Inc., or its successor organization. The Governor’s budget assumes that this will lower ratepayer costs by eliminating a financial incentive for distribution companies, which is available only when membership is voluntary.  
 
Sections 5, 7 and 8. Renewable Energy Fund. These sections extend the Renewable Energy Fund, administered by the Commerce Corporation, for three years to the end of 2031. The fund is supported by a surcharge of 0.3 mills per kilowatt-hour on all customers and an alternative compliance payment of $90 per megawatt-hour for renewable energy obligations. The alternative compliance payments are made by entities that sell electrical energy to end-use consumers in the state in lieu of obtaining renewable energy from the electric grid. These sections define zero-emission resources to include nuclear resources and largescale hydroelectric facilities, establish a tier alternative compliance payment fee of $40 for new renewable resources and $11 for existing resources, and expand the use of the funds to include clean transportation and energy storage. Effective January 1, 2027, 50.0 percent of the revenues from alternative compliance payments must be used to provide rate relief, subject to oversight and approval of the Office of Energy Resources. The fund income in 2024 was $11.8 million, including $3.6 million from energy charges and $0.6 million from alternative compliance payments. Section 8 delays the schedule and rate of meeting renewable energy standards of 100 percent from 2033 to 2050. (The Chamber testified against the 2033 date sharing concerns about the ability to meet the requirements in a cost-effective manner.  Rhode Island adopted the most aggressive timeline target in the country.) 
 
Section 6. Road Repair by Public Utility Companies. This section requires any public utility or utility facility to recover all costs associated with road repair in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This amortizes these capital costs over a longer time. This minimizes the impact on rate payers.  
 
Sections 9 and 11. Financial Incentives. These sections repeal the long-term contracting incentive to electric distribution companies for newly developed renewable energy resources.  
 
Section 10. Net Metering. Net metering allows customers with eligible renewable energy systems to receive bill credits for all power generated up to 125 percent of the on-site consumption during a billing period. Public entities, including municipalities and quasi-state entities, are allowed to enter into virtual net metering arrangements with renewable energy developers for up to 10 megawatts per project site. This section of the article establishes a monthly tiered grid access fee to be determined by the Public Utilities Commission. The funds would be used by the electric distribution company to offset costs associated with the net metering systems.  
 
Sections 12 and 13. Health Spending Accountability and Transparency Program. These sections codify the Health Insurance Commissioner’s authority to set annual healthcare cost growth targets, currently authorized under Executive Order 19-03, as well as all-payer primary care investment targets. Annual targets shall be set every five years, effective July 1, 2027; cost growth targets for 2026 and 2027 shall be established according to the existing framework. Compliance is currently voluntary. These sections empower the Commissioner to impose performance improvement plans and financial penalties if an insurance provider fails to meet the cost growth target twice in three years. The value of penalties and oversight would be subject to regulation by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. These sections also require the Commissioner to publish an annual report on healthcare spending and quality and to hold a subsequent public hearing. If an entity fails to meet either an annual cost growth or investment target, it may be compelled to participate. The Governor’s recommendation contains $350,000 from general revenues, $50,000 more than enacted, for contracted data collection and analysis to support this work.  
 
Section 14. Individual Marketplace Affordability Program. This section authorizes the Rhode Island Health Benefit Exchange to establish the Individual Market Affordability program, which is intended to provide assistance to individuals who purchase health insurance on the Exchange. The legislation authorizes the Exchange to determine the annual affordability percentages for each upcoming coverage year based on the appropriations. The first coverage year would be 2027, and the legislation requires that for that year, affordability percentages prioritize households with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. It also requires that any unspent funds be reappropriated to the following year for the same purpose. The Governor’s budget includes $9.5 million from general revenues and appears to assume this would fully cover 2027 premium costs for the six months of FY 2027 for individuals under 200 percent of the federal poverty level who are no longer receiving the federal enhanced subsidies for premium assistance. Enhanced subsidies expired at the end of 2025. While pending federal legislation addresses the issue in different ways, no changes have been adopted for the 2026 coverage year. This level of support would require $20.0 million annually. 
  
The following new bills have been filed: 
 
House Bill No. 7484  (by request) BY  Carson, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- BUILDINGS CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT (Requires large developments, those to be constructed on a parcel of land that is greater than 50,000 square feet in size provide carbon impact reports as part of the permitting process prior to approval and issuance of a building permit.)   
 
House Bill No. 7490 BY  Potter, Bennett, Read, Shanley, Edwards, Messier, Furtado, Giraldo, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES--OVERTIME (Requires small employers with one to fifty (1-50) employees and large employers with fifty (50) or more employees to pay overtime wages to exempt workers if their salary exceeds varying multipliers of minimum wage for a forty (40) hour workweek.)  http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7490.pdf   
 
House Bill No. 7505 BY  Stewart, Cotter, Tanzi, Ajello, Carson, Cruz, Speakman, Boylan, Kislak, Potter, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND NEW QUALIFIED JOBS INCENTIVE ACT 2015 (Sunsets/discontinues the Jobs Development Act rate reduction as of July 1, 2026.) 
 
House Bill No. 7509  BY  Carson, AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION ACT OF 2015 (Amends the Identity Theft Protection Act by eliminating current definitions and establishing new definitions. This act also raises the penalty provisions for violations.) 
 
House Bill No. 7514 (Lieutenant Governor) BY  Diaz, Slater, McEntee, Shallcross Smith, Edwards, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- PROTECTING RHODE ISLANDERS FROM COERCIVE ECONOMIC TACTICS AT GROCERY STORES (Creates a new chapter to protect Rhode Island consumers from coercive tactics at grocery stores.) 
 
House Bill No. 7543  BY  Voas, Potter, O'Brien, Slater, Read, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTERNET ACCESS AND ADVERTISING BY FACSIMILE (Requires that video or photography generated by artificial intelligence or “AI” that is posted on a public platform contain a marking disclosing that it has been generated by AI.) 
 
House Bill No. 7561 BY  Voas, Stewart, Potter, Dawson, McNamara, O'Brien, Boylan, Fogarty, Hull, Lombardi, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- BENEFITS (Enables employees to no longer have to utilize sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave or other paid time off as a condition to their maternity leave.) 
 
House Bill No. 7595 BY  Potter, Alzate, McGaw, Tanzi, Felix, Giraldo, Voas, Kislak, Sanchez, Batista, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- WEALTH TAX (Imposes a wealth tax on Rhode Island individuals and entities at a rate of one percent (1%) of worldwide wealth.) 
 
Senate Bill No. 2428 BY  Euer, Quezada, Appollonio, Famiglietti, Lauria, Lawson, Patalano, McKenney, Kallman, Paolino, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES (Prohibits any person from employing dynamic or surveillance pricing practices in the sale of goods or services to consumers in Rhode Island.) 
 
Senate Bill No. 2498 BY  Burke, LaMountain, Tikoian, Thompson, Felag, Patalano, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- INSPECTION OF PERSONNEL FILES (Expands the obligations of employers to create, maintain and retain their employees' personnel records, it requires that records be retained for at least 3 years after employee's termination. It also increases the financial penalties for each violation.) 
 
Senate Bill No. 2499  BY  Gu, DiPalma, Zurier, Urso, Ciccone, Burke, McKenney, Bell, Appollonio, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE AND FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (Creates a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees.) 
 
Senate Bill No. 2500  BY  Raptakis, de la Cruz, Paolino, Rogers, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- E-VERIFY COMPLIANCE (Establishes the E-Verify compliance program which would require all non-governmental employers within the state with 3 or more employees to apply to participate in the federal E-Verify program and to agree to participate in the program, if accepted.) 
 
Senate Bill No. 2502  BY  Ciccone, Urso, Felag, Burke, Dimitri, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT (Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.) ​

What is in the Governor’s Budget? In the coming editions of Advocacy in Action, we will highlight and summarize key articles of interest to the business community.
 
Article 2 – Relating to State Funds
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7127.pdf
 
Article 2 provides for changes to certain state funding accounts.
 
Section 1 – Uninsured Protection Fund

• A technical correction, it exempts the Uninsured Protection Fund (UPF) at the Department of Labor and Training from the 15% assessment for indirect cost recovery to be consistent with the exemption of the Workers’ Compensation Administration Fund included in the FY2026 enacted budget. The UPF provides workers compensation benefits to employees injured while working for an employer that failed to carry valid workers’ compensation insurance.

 
Section 2 – RIPTA / Highway Maintenance Account

• As part of a plan to cover the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority’s $13.8 million operating deficit, it increases RIPTA’s annual minimum share of the Highway Maintenance Account from $5 million to $14.3 million for FY27 and annually thereafter

 
 
Article 4 – Relating to Debt Management
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/Article-004.pdf
 
Article 4 authorizes new non-general obligation debt for three higher education projects.
 
Section 2 – Rhode Island College – Residential Life Renovations – Auxiliary Enterprise

• Approves financing of $20.6 million to enhances on-campus experience by renovating five residence halls, supported by revenue derived from residential life auxiliary student fees.

 
Section 3 – University of Rhode Island – Repaving and Hardscape Improvements

• Approves financing of $20 million to reconstruct and repave parking, roads and walkways at the Kingston, Narraganset Bay, and Alton Jones campuses, supported by repayments from unrestricted revenues and enterprise parking funds.

 
Section 4 – University of Rhode Island – Automotive and Administrative Services

• Approves financing of $14.4 million to construct a new automotive repair building and an addition to the central warehouse for mail/printing, supported by the University’s unrestricted revenue.

 
 
Article 7 – Relative to Education
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/Article-007.pdf
 
Article 7 revises policies and funding relative to school construction, the education funding formula, and the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College.
 
Sections 1 & 3 – School Housing Aid

• Increases the project cost threshold that triggers a project manager and commission agent from $1.5 million to $10 million, subject to inflation, and limits its cost to 3% of total project costs, which is estimated to save $1.5 million annually (~$800,000 state share).

 
Section 2 – Education Aid Student Success Factor

• Increases the weight applied for children whose family is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines from 40% to 43%, which is funded with an additional $14.4 million to address for these changes.

 
Sections 4 & 5 – Hope Scholarship

• Eliminates the pilot program and makes permanent the Hope Scholarship at Rhode Island College, a merit based last dollar tuition reduction scholarship program that provides for tuition and fees in Junior and Senior years for qualifying Rhode Island students that are in good academic standing, with a 2.5 GPA or higher, and are on track to graduate or to earn an approved certificate in a total of four years.

 
Section 6 – School Building Authority Capital Fund

• Eliminates the depositing of any current year difference between appropriations and entitlements under the traditional housing aid program into the School Building Authority Capital Fund.

 
 
 
This Week at the State House
 
Tuesday, February 3rd
 
Prohibiting Credit Card Surcharges
 
The House Corporations Committee has on its agenda for Tuesday at the Rise (approximately 4:30pm) in the House Lounge, behind the House Chamber on the Second Floor, H 7409 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7409.pdf) which would make it a deceptive trade practice for any retail establishment to impose a surcharge fee on a customer for the use of a credit card. Testimony should be emailed to [email protected].  
 
 
Thursday, February 5th
 
At the Rise on Thursday in Room 135, the House Labor Committee will hear various bills impacting employers. Testimony on the bills below should be emailed to [email protected]. 
 
 
Workplace Bullying
H 7121 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7121.pdf) would
prohibit any type of psychological abuse in the workplace inflicted by an employer, upon an employee or by a co-employee upon an employee, that results in the violation of an employee's right to a physically and psychologically safe work environment. It would also provide an employee, subject to bullying, psychological abuse, psychological injury and/or physical injury, with protections in the workplace and civil remedies against perpetrators of any prohibited activity. This act would further assess civil penalties upon employers violating the act, based upon the gross amount of revenues earned by employers, in addition to civil liability for damages sustained by the employee, as well as civil and criminal liability for any such conduct of a co-employee.
 
 
Inspection of Personnel Files
H 7442 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7442.pdf) would greatly expand the obligations of employers to create, maintain and retain their employees’ personnel records, including retention for at least three years after termination, and doubles penalties for each violation to $3,000.
 
 
Restricting Self Service Checkouts
H 7290 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7290.pdf) would limit grocery stores by capping the number of self-service checkout stations they can operate and mandating a minimum ratio of manual checkout stations to self-service checkout stations. Further, it limits the workload and additional duties an employer can assign to an employee that monitors self-service checkout stations.
 
 
32 Hour Work Week
H 7362 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7362.pdf) would reduce the workweek to 32 hours without reduction in pay from a 40 hour week, and require that work in excess of 32 hours in any workweek to qualify for overtime pay.  H 7367 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7367.pdf) would create a nine member study commission to evaluate reducing the 40 hour workweek to 32 hours.
 
 
Warehouse Worker Standards
H 7364 (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7364.pdf) would require employers to provide warehouse distribution center workers upon hire a written description of employee quotas applicable to their work, including any quantified number of takss to be performed on materials to be produced or handled, within defined time periods, and any adverse action that could result from failure to meet such quotas.
 
The following new bills have been filed
 
 
Senate Bill No. 2342 BY  Lawson, LaMountain, Bissaillon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT (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.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2342.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2343 BY  Paolino, Dimitri, Rogers, Patalano, Thompson, Pearson, DiPalma, Ujifusa, Burke, Gu ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY FAIRNESS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES (Expands the duties of the small business ombudsman, by also having the ombudsman serve as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2343.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2344 BY  Felag, Burke, Tikoian, Murray, Lauria, Vargas, DiMario ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTERCHANGE FEES (Prohibits the charging of interchange fees on taxes and gratuities.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2344.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2346 BY  DiPalma, Tikoian, Ciccone, Britto, Gallo, Urso ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE CORPORATION (Establishes property, tangible, sales and use tax exemptions as incentives for the location of qualified data centers in Rhode Island.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2346.pdf


Senate Resolution No. 2354 BY  DiMario, Britto, Zurier, Euer, Vargas, Lauria, Ujifusa, Mack, Bell, Valverde ENTITLED, SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO TERMINATE GAS LINE EXTENSION ALLOWANCES AS PART OF DOCKET 25-45-GE https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2354.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2361 BY  Mack, Acosta, DiMario, Murray, Lauria ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- WEALTH TAX (Imposes a wealth tax on Rhode Island individuals and entities at a rate of one percent (1%) of worldwide wealth.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2361.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2370 BY  Thompson, Famiglietti, Patalano, Burke, Dimitri, Quezada, Pearson, Tikoian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND TAX AMNESTY ACT OF 2017 (Authorizes the tax administrator to waive interest and penalties on delinquent taxes paid in full during a one week amnesty period. Also reinstates a suspended driver’s license upon payment in full.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2370.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2372 BY  Felag, Urso, Burke, LaMountain, DiPalma, Ciccone, Tikoian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Eliminates the sales tax on taxi services and pet care services.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2372.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2390 BY  Patalano, Ciccone, Tikoian, Famiglietti, Appollonio, Thompson, Raptakis, Burke, Dimitri, LaMountain ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GIFT CARD FRAUD (Makes offenses against gift card holders subject to the penalties for larceny.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2390.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 2396 BY  McKenney, Burke, LaMountain, Appollonio, Bissaillon ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- ARBITRATION (Extends time for a party to apply for stay of arbitration to180 days; invalidates any provision that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation; requires arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2396.pdf


Senate Bill No. 2406 BY  Lawson, DiPalma, Murray, LaMountain, Gallo ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- AGE-APPROPRIATE DESIGN CODE (Requires that any covered entity that develops/provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing/developing such online service, product, or feature.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2406.pdf


Senate Bill No. 2408 BY  Mack, Valverde, Vargas, Quezada ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES (Commencing January 1, 2027, this act would increase the minimum wage for employees receiving gratuities, from the current three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) to six dollars and seventy-five cents ($6.75) per hour.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2408.pdf


House Bill No. 7440 BY  Furtado, Kislak, Bennett, Casimiro, Kazarian, Donovan, Alzate, O'Brien, Stewart, Messier ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT SECURITY -- BENEFITS (Allows unemployment benefits for workers who are on strike or are locked out of their workplaces by their employer due to a labor dispute.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7440.pdf


House Bill No. 7449 BY  Paplauskas, Nardone, Fascia, Place, Newberry, Chippendale, Roberts, Brien, Santucci, HopkinsnENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY FAIRNESS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES-ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENTS (Requires agencies preparing economic impact statements for small businesses contain findings that the anticipated compliance costs of a proposed rule scale proportionally with the business size, and do not impose fixed costs that favor larger businesses.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7449.pdf


House Bill No. 7467 BY  McEntee, Spears, Phillips, Casey, Shallcross Smith, Fogarty, Craven, Kennedy, Azzinaro, Cotter ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT (Removes the requirement that 5% of the hotel tax generated from regional tourism districts be paid to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and adds that 5% of the hotel tax to the existing tax paid to the RI commerce corporation. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7467.pdf

​This Week at the State House
Tuesday, January 27th
Credit Card Fee Notification
This Week at the State House


Tuesday, January 27th


Credit Card Fee Notification


The House Corporations Committee has on its agenda for Tuesday at the Rise (approximately 4:30pm) in the Room 101, two bills of interest. H.7022 http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7022.pdf requires any business that charges a fee to customers for the use of a credit card to post in a conspicuous place the amount of the surcharge. Failure to disclose the surcharge is a violation of the Unfair Trade Practice Act. The law, if passed, would take effect January 1, 2027.


Sales to Persons Over 65
H.7266 http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7266.pdf pertains to businesses that sell good or services to individuals over the age of 65. If the business offers customers a discount for utilizing ACH or EFT payment methods, the same discount must be offered to individuals over 65 who pay by a paper check. This act would take effect upon passage.


Testimony for either H.7022 or H.7266 should be emailed to [email protected]




Thursday, January 29th


Interest on Judgments


The House Judiciary Committee has on its agenda for Thursday at the Rise in the House Lounge (behind the House chamber on the second floor) H.7033 http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7033.pdf . H.7033 changes the amount of interest assessed on a civil judgments – pre judgment and post judgement - from 12% to a rate equal to the coupon issue yield equivalent, as determined by the United States secretary of the treasury, of the average accepted auction price for the last auction of fifty-two (52) week United States treasury bills settled immediately preceding the date of the filing of the action. This act would take effect upon passage. Testimony should be emailed to [email protected]






What is in the Governor’s Budget?


Article 6 – Capital Development Program
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/Article-006.pdf proposes $600 million in new bonding authority if approved by the voters. This amount is significantly higher than previous budget years which saw bonding requests totaling $300 million to $400 million. The $600 million request includes the following outlays:


· Higher Education Facilities Bond - $215 million
o The $215 million is broken down to include: $105 million for the construction of a new Integrated Health Building on the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus, $50 million for a Rhode Island College student success and career readiness center and Adams Library, and $60 million for the Community College of RI innovation center.


· Housing and Homeownership Bond - $120 million
o At least $25 million is dedicated to production of housing intended for homeownership. The remainder of the bond money is slated to be used for affordable and accessible housing through redevelopment of existing structures, new construction, property acquisition, and infrastructure improvements. In November, 2024 voters approved a $120 million housing bond. The state started accepting applications in October, 2025. It is unclear how much of the $120 million has been spent thus far.


· Economic Development Bond - $115 million
o This bond is broken into two separate funds. The bond calls for $70 million to be used for land acquisition, environmental remediation, utility infrastructure and site preparation for industrial sites. This also includes efforts to create pad-ready sites at the Quonset Business Park and projects within the I-195 district.


· Career and Technical Education - $50 million
o The $50 million is slated for the creation of new or improvements to existing career and technical education programs.


· Green Economy and Clean Energy Bonds - $50 million
o There are seven designated purposes for this bond, including: $3 million for Brownsfields remediation, $8 million for facility improvements at state parks, $1 million to serve as an 80% matching grants program for municipalities to acquire or rehabilitate recreations facilities, $1 million for marine infrastructure and recreational facilities, $20 million to be used for resiliency infrastructure, coastal habitat and floodplains, $7 million to address nonpoint source pollution abatement such as stormwater management and riparian buffers, and $10 million for energy efficiency infrastructure.


· Cultural Economy - $50 million
o The Cultural Economy bond is divided into two portions. $45 million would be used to create a state history center to house archived historical documents. The remaining $5 million would be used as matching grants for capital improvements to public historic sites, museums and cultural art centers.


Article 3 – Government Reform and Reorganization
https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/Article-003.pdf proposes several changes to government departments, state operations and economic development programs.


· Section 1. Governor’s Line Item Veto – If passed, Rhode Island would join 44 other states in giving the Governor the power to veto specific sections of the budget, not just the “budget as a whole.” If vetoed, the specific section could be overridden by a 3/5 majority vote of the both the House and Senate. The last state to pass a line-item veto was the state of Maine in 1995. Massachusetts passed its version in 1918. Connecticut passed it in 1924. Vermont and New Hampshire do not allow their Governors that authority.


· Section 2. Management of Unused Paint – This section requires the state’s contractor – PaintCare – to update its plan for review and approval every five years starting December 31, 2026. Current law allows DEM to request an update every four years.


· Section 3. Green Buildings Act – The Governor proposes to move the jurisdiction of the program from the Department of Administration to the Office of the State Building Code Commissioner starting July 1, 2026. Any regulations promulgated thus far will remain in effect until the Commissioner promulgates new rules. The Department of Administration must analyze the costs and benefits of LEED certification to determine if it is still a valuable certification process.


· Sections 4, 5 and 17. Weatherization Program – Sections 4, 5 and 17 transfer the state’s weatherization efficiency (grants and system upgrade assistance) program from the Department of Human Services to the Office of Energy Resources. Section 17 also designates the Office of Energy Resources as the responsible entity for administering any energy bond referendums passed by the voters.


· Sections 6, 7 and 19-23. Big River Reservoir – These sections give the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) authority over lands acquired for the Big River Reservoir project. The 8,600-acre area was purchased in the 1960s as a proposed back up reservoir. Home owners were moved out in anticipation of flooding the area, until EPA stepped in (1990) killing the project and citing irreparable damage to existing wetlands.


· Section 8. Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Act – Section 8 increases the aggregate maximum credit, inclusive of sales and use exemptions allowed, from $225 million to $250 million. The Rebuild RI program is slated to expire December 31, 2026. This proposed amendment extends the program for an additional year to December 31, 2027.
· Sections 9 through 15 and Section 18 – Economic Development Program Extensions – The following programs are extended for an additional year, ending December 31, 2027: RI Tax Increment Financing, Tax Stabilization Incentive, Wave Closing Fund Act, I-195 Redevelopment Project Fund Act, Stay Invested in RI Wavemaker Fellowship, Main Street RI Streetscape Improvement Fund, and the Innovation Initiative.


· Section 16. Rhode Island Energy Resources Act – Section 16 creates an energy benchmarking program for state buildings with a footprint of 25,000 gross square feet or more. Each month, a report would be filed noting the amount of energy used in the building as well as the type of energy utilized. The Office of Energy Resources is charged with compiling the data and setting standards for state buildings that would require a decrease in energy used over time. The intent of the act is to assist the state in meeting its mandates under the Act on Climate. Section 16 includes a voluntary program for municipalities. Last year the legislature considered legislation requiring all buildings, including privately owned buildings, over 25,000 square feet to participate in a similar program. That legislation has been filed again this year (see H.7183 and H.7184 below) and will be the subject of debate at the state house.


· Section 18. Rhode Island Qualified Jobs Incentive Act of 2015 – Section 18 extends the RI Qualified Jobs Incentive Act for one year to December 31, 2027. Companies that create new positions or relocate jobs to the state can receive annual, redeemable tax credits for up to 10 years, with credits of up to $7,500 per job per year.














The following new bills have been filed:
House Bill No. 7172 BY Casimiro, Giraldo, Donovan, Read, Spears, Shallcross Smith, Potter, Hopkins, ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSACTION REVIEW AND SIGNIFICANT EQUITY INVESTOR DISCLOSURE ACT (Creates and establishes the Health Care and Social Services Transaction Review and Significant Equity Investor Disclosure Act designed to enhance disclosure for material changes involving significant equity investors.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7172.pdf
House Bill No. 7179 BY Phillips, Brien, Place, Azzinaro, Shanley
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VEHICLE BARRIERS -- THE CHARLOTTE A. VACCA ACT (Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishment locations as part of any new construction.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7179.pdf
House Bill No. 7180 BY Shallcross Smith, Marszalkowski, DeSimone, Kislak, Giraldo, Brien, Cruz, Potter, Fogarty, Read ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DIGITAL ELECTRONICS RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT (Establishes a digital electronics right to repair, which allows for digital electronic equipment and parts that are sold in this state on or after January 1, 2027, to be repaired at an independent repair provider.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7180.pdf
House Bill No. 7183 BY Kislak, Fogarty, Carson, McGaw, Boylan, Speakman, Cortvriend, Handy, Bennett, Donovan ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING BENCHMARKING AND REPORTING ACT OF 2026 (Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7183.pdf
House Bill No. 7184 BY Kislak, Handy, Fogarty, Cortvriend, McGaw, Potter
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ACT OF 2026 (Directs the office of energy resources to develop building performance standards for large buildings in Rhode Island that would cause greenhouse gas emissions to decline in line with the act on climate requirements.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7184.pdf
House Bill No. 7290 BY Cotter, Spears, Carson, Donovan, Corvese, Morales, Read, Kislak, Ajello, Potter ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT (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.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7290.pdf House Bill No. 7291 BY Casey, Edwards, Ackerman ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT (Allows employees, not represented by a union, to create a group to collectively bargain with employers.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7291.pdf
House Bill No. 7313 BY Alzate, Fogarty, Potter, Giraldo, Donovan, Spears, Lombardi, Diaz, Cotter, Kazarian ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Creates an additional tax rate of 3% on taxable income over $640,000 in 2026 dollars. Applies to tax years 2027 and thereafter and not retroactively.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7313.pdf Senate Bill No. 2195 BY Urso, Gu, DiPalma, Paolino, Zurier, Murray, Appollonio
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANION MODELS (Creates additional safety features for AI companion technology that include addressing suicidal ideation, potential physical harm or financial harm to others expressed by a user. It also requires notification the AI companion does not have human emotions.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2195.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2218 BY Kallman, Valverde, Lauria, DiMario, Euer, Vargas, Gu, Mack, Britto ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ACT OF 2026 (Directs the office of energy resources to develop building performance standards for large buildings in Rhode Island that would cause greenhouse gas emissions to decline in line with the act on climate requirements.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2218.pdf Senate Bill No. 2222 BY Sosnowski, Murray, Euer, McKenney, Kallman, Valverde
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ECONOMIC AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACT OF 2026 (Establishes a fee on companies that sell fossil fuels in Rhode Island and establishes a fund to disburse the collected funds.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2222.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2238 BY Murray, Lawson, Ciccone, DiMario, Lauria, Bissaillon, Acosta, Gu, McKenney, Burke ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX (Creates an additional tax rate of 3% on taxable income over $640,000 in 2026 dollars. Applies to tax years 2027 and thereafter and not retroactively.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2238.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2248 BY Sosnowski, Murray, Zurier, Valverde, Kallman, DiMario, Gu, Ciccone, Pearson, Britto ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Creates an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2248.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2251 BY Tikoian, Ciccone, Felag, Burke, Dimitri, Famiglietti, Morgan, Paolino, Thompson, DiPalma ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO
TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Eliminates the estate tax in Rhode Island.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2251.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2320 BY DiPalma, Ciccone, Britto, LaMountain, Felag, Gallo, Patalano, Dimitri, Famiglietti ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (Requires employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandates quarterly supervisor training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2320.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2323 BY Bissaillon, Lawson, DiPalma, Gallo, Gu, Urso, Zurier, Acosta, Bell, Mack ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- THE COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION BENEFITS ACT (Establishes the commuter transportation benefit chapter. Employers with five hundred (500) or more employees required to establish a pre-tax commuter transportation fringe benefit program.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2323.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2324 BY Quezada, Acosta, Kallman, Bissaillon, Valverde, Bell, DiMario, Lauria, Zurier, Vargas ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- CONSUMER CREDIT HISTORY EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION ACT -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES (Prohibits employers from seeking/using credit reports in making hiring decisions concerning prospective employees, asking questions about the applicant's financial past during interviews or including credit history questions in their job applications.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2324.pdf
Senate Bill No. 2325 BY Thompson, Raptakis, Burke, Ciccone, Britto, Quezada, Murray, Tikoian, McKenney, Gu ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES (Effective January 1, 2028, Increases the hourly minimum wage in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region for the previous four (4) fiscal years.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2325.pdf

​Dance - Tumbling teacher Pay: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour
Job description:
Company Overview
We are dedicated to fostering children's development through dynamic dance, motor skills, and creative movement programs designed for children aged 2-12. Our innovative curriculum integrates movement with academic and social-emotional learning, promoting the growth of the whole child in a fun and supportive environment.
Job Summary
We are seeking an energetic and passionate Dance - Tumbling Teacher to join our after-school classes at area schools. In this role, you will inspire children through engaging tumbling and dance activities, helping them develop strength, coordination, and confidence. You will create a positive classroom atmosphere while delivering structured lessons that support physical, cognitive, and social development.
Responsibilities

• Lead engaging tumbling, physical education, and dance classes tailored to various age groups and skill levels.
• Implement creative lesson plans that incorporate movement, coordination, and basic gymnastics skills.
• Manage classroom behavior effectively to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
• Foster a love of movement and dance while encouraging self-expression and teamwork among children.
• Maintain a clean, organized classroom setup with appropriate safety measures in place.
• Communicate progress and observations to parents or guardians as needed.
• Incorporate elements of childhood development, early childhood education, and behavior management into daily instruction.

Requirements

• Previous experience teaching dance, tumbling, gymnastics, or related movement activities to children.
• Strong knowledge of curriculum development and classroom management techniques.
• Experience working with children in educational or recreational settings; preschool or early childhood education experience is a plus.
• Ability to travel to area schools in Providence, East Providence, and Warwick area
• Skills in photography or theater are beneficial for creating promotional content or themed classes.
• Knowledge of special education strategies and behavior management techniques to support diverse learners.
• Enthusiasm for working with children of all abilities and backgrounds; patience and adaptability are essential. Join us to make a positive impact on children's lives through movement!

To apply email [email protected] with your resume and a brief description stating how this opportunity would be a fit for you.

Thank you to all our Sponsors and attendees who celebrated with us at the lobster Pot on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2025 
Sponsored by: BankNewport, DeVine & Associates, Farmer & Vining, PC., CPA's, Navigant Credit Union, Southcoast Health, Washington Trust,
A.N. Nunes Agency, Centreville Bank, Chaffee Roofing, MG Commercial , Phil's Propane, Slepkow, Slepkow & Associates
​3G Painting & Coatings, John Andrade Insurance Agency, Magnetic Seal, LLC, Senator Linda Ujifusa, Shomari Lewis Engel & Volkers, Time the Plumber, Inc 

Alway's a great time at the Bristol Golf Park,  96 Broadcommon Road, Bristol, RI 02809
www.bristolgolfpark.com