The 2025 Session Begins


Welcome to the 2025 Edition of Advocacy in Action. The legislature began its session last week. Bills are currently being filed and we expect hearings to begin in the upcoming weeks.


Key dates for 2025 include the following:


Governor McKee’s State of the State Address – January 14, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Last day for Senate public bill introduction – To Be Announced (usually prior to Winter recess)
Last day for House public bill introduction – To Be Announced (usually prior to Winter recess)
Winter Recess – February 17-21, 2025
Spring Recess – April 14-18, 2025




New Laws Now in Effect


This is a reminder that a few new laws went into effect as of January 1, 2025.


Minimum Wage – The minimum wage increased to $15.00 per hour.


Temporary Caregiver Benefits - The TCI dependent’s allowance benefit increased from $10 to $20 per month beginning January 1, 2025. The law lengthens the benefit weeks available to employees from six weeks to seven weeks beginning January 1, 2025, and to eight weeks beginning January 1, 2026. No change was made to the definition of eligibility for benefits.


New Poster Requirement for Businesses - Employers with 50 employees or more must display a poster containing information on veterans’ benefits available. The Department of Labor and Training is charged with creating the poster and providing it to employers; and they are currently working on the poster content. When the final product is available the Chamber will publish the link to the document.


Customer Paper Receipts and Invoices - It is now illegal for businesses to charge any fee to a person 65 years of age or older for a hard-copy paper bill, statement, or invoice. Anyone doing so, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of $500.


Independent Contractor Filing - Independent contractors must file annually with the Department of Labor. This law specifies that independent contractors must file annually for each client to be legally considered an individual contractor. The process is simple. To file DWC-11-IC form online, go to: https://dlt.ri.gov/workers-compensation/independent-contractors If you are a company that hires independent contractors, the Chamber encourages you to verify the form has been filed.








CHAMBER MEMBER ACTION REQUEST - Preparations for 2025 Session


If you attended the January “Eggs and Issues” breakfast with the Speaker of the House, you heard him say loudly and clearly that business people must be engaged with their state Representatives and Senators or face the passage of harmful legislation. Legislators are not experts in your business. They need to hear from you directly in order to understand the challenges you confront on a daily basis.


Throughout the legislative session, the Chamber may be calling on you, asking for your assistance conveying our message on legislation to legislators. Please go to https://vote.sos.ri.gov and click on “Find Your Elected Officials.” Enter your zip code and address. Find your “Representative District” legislator and your “Senate District” legislator (if you live in Rhode Island). Email your name and the legislators name to _____________________. The Chamber will be compiling a database for future grassroots efforts. If you also know a legislator who lives in another district, please send that information to the Chamber as well and we will include it in the database.


Thank you for your help!




The following new bills have been filed:
House Bill No. 5027 Diaz, Tanzi, McNamara, Azzinaro, Batista, Phillips, Edwards, Giraldo, Shallcross Smith, Ajello, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKPLACE SAFETY ACT (Provides that any law or regulation which prohibits or protects a person from exposure to second-hand smoke would include second-hand marijuana smoke or vapor.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5027.pdf
House Bill No. 5029 Bennett, Potter, Diaz, Edwards, Slater, Corvese, Solomon, Craven, Kazarian, Casimiro, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MINIMUM WAGES (Sets the minimum wage for 2026 at $16 per hour, 2027 at $17 per hour, 2028 at $18 per hour, 2029 at $19 per hour and for 2030 at $20 per hour.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Bill

  The Washington Trust Company (“Washington Trust”) recently announced that it has made charitable contributions and in-kind donations to 40 local nonprofit organizations to support their outreach efforts this holiday season.
 
“Washington Trust truly values our local communities and is committed to supporting organizations that provide basic needs and family services to our neighbors in need,” said Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, Washington Trust Chairman & CEO. “Especially during the season of giving, our entire team is proud to support the organizations that are the cornerstones of our communities as they work to ensure no one goes hungry, and everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy of the season.”


Ahead of the holidays, the Washington Trust Charitable Foundation made grants totaling $18,000 to assist hunger relief agencies located throughout Rhode Island to support food distribution efforts.
 
The $1,000 grants were made to the following 18 organizations:
Barrington, RI: TAP-IN
Block Island, RI: Helping Hands of Block Island
Coventry, RI; Coventry Community Food Bank
Cranston, RI: Comprehensive Community Action Program
Cumberland, RI: Northern Rhode Island Food Pantry
East Greenwich, RI: East Greenwich Interfaith Food Cupboard
Hope Valley, RI: RI Center Assisting Those in Need
Johnston, RI: Tri-County Community Action Agency
North Kingstown, RI: North Kingstown Food Pantry
North Providence, RI: Saint Anthony Kitchen Ministry
Peace Dale, RI: Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale
Providence, RI: Better Lives Rhode Island and Federal Hill House
Rumford, RI: Good Neighbors Community Kitchen and Food Pantry
Smithfield, RI: Saint Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
Warwick, RI: City of Warwick Department of Human Services
Westerly, RI: W.A.R.M. Center and the Jonnycake Center of Westerly


Additionally, employees at each Washington Trust branch location, as well as back-office departments, worked with a local organization to support their holiday gift giving programs. In total, the team supported 22 different nonprofits and community efforts, providing toys, gifts, gift cards and more to help fill family wish lists.


Partner organizations included:
Block Island, RI: The Mary D Fund
Coventry, RI: Coventry Housing Authority
Cranston, RI: Comprehensive Community Action Program
East Providence, RI: St. Francis Xavier Church, East Bay Community Action
North Kingstown, RI: Beechwood Community Center
North Providence, RI: Moms of Marieville
Providence, RI: Adoption RI, Children’s Friend, Jesucristo Fuente de Vida Church, Mount Hope Community Center, and Sojourner House
Richmond, RI: Matthew’s Wish
Smithfield, RI: St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry
South Kingstown, RI: Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale
Wakefield, RI: Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
Warwick, RI: Tides Family Services
Westerly, RI: W.A.R.M. Center, Pleasant Street Baptist Church, The Frank Olean Center, and the Jonnycake Center of Westerly
Woonsocket, RI: Woonsocket Adopt A Family, Inc.
 
 
ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST®
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island, and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust values its role as a community bank and is committed to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. Washington Trust is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-owned holding company which trades on NASDAQ: WASH. For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.washtrust.com or the Corporation's website at ir.washtrust.com.

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Uptown Food & Spirits FOR SALE
437 Main St. (in the heart of historic downtown Warren)
 
Uptown Food & Spirits was founded in November 2019 by Chef Jimmy Tsimikas (and his now-wife, Alyssa) - opening 4 months before the pandemic hit. Through the support of the community, bolstered by to-go orders, Uptown thrived - celebrating 5 years in business in November 2024. Uptown has been consistently ranked by OpenTable as one of the top 10 brunch places in RI and south of Boston. All of Uptown’s food is made to-order, from scratch. The seasonally-inspired fare enabled Uptown to become a local favorite as well as a destination eatery.
 
Jimmy & Alyssa adopted twin girls from foster care earlier this year.  With the added responsibility of these two precious children, they have decided it’s time to hang up the aprons and spend time together as a new family.  Uptown’s last day open is Sunday, December 1st.
 
This is a fantastic opportunity to become the next steward of 437 Main St – it’s been a breakfast/lunch cornerstone in Warren since 1972, with plenty of space for private events and ability to expand into offering dinner. 
 
Uptown is being offered for sale (business only, not the building) for $190,000.
Owner can offer financing with 50% down; terms are negotiable.  A five year lease is available with optional years as well (negotiable).
 
Furniture, fixtures, and equipment are included: griddles, ovens, refrigerators, ice machine, dishwashers, dishes, utensils, pots, pans, Toast POS system (3 terminals and 4 hand-helds), tables, chairs, booths, patio furniture, umbrellas, heaters, seasonal décor, plants, and more.  Indoor capacity is 75, patio seating is an additional 20+ seats.  Seating can also be added to the sidewalk out front (permitted through the town).  Full basement availability, same square footage as main floor, (currently office storage, liquor storage and dry goods). 


Liquor license can be expeditiously obtained from the Town and Owner will guide buyer with the process.  
 
Please email [email protected] for more details and to schedule a walk-through.  

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