​Advocacy in Action April 6, 2026

This Week at the State House
 
Attorney General Authority Over Businesses
 
The breadth of the Attorney General’s authority is a topic of discussion for the House Committee on State Government & Elections Committee at the Rise on Tuesday.  H.7993, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government – Department of Attorney General, creates a bureau of public protection within the AG’s office. The bill gives the AG authority to appoint special assistant attorneys general, experts, consultants, and other assistants as required.  The bureau is designed to have four divisions:  consumer protection and antitrust enforcement, health care regulation and access, environmental protection and energy regulation and civil rights protection.  If the AG believes anyone or any business has engaged in repeated illegal acts (meaning multiple illegal acts or one illegal act that affects more than one person) the AG can file for an order in superior court, and can direct restitution, damages and penalties and can cancel any certificate filed with the secretary of state.  This means the AG could rescind the right of a business to operate and he would have the right to issue civil investigative demands which is a form of subpoena to obtain information without a court order.  The language contains an exemption for businesses subject to regulation by a state agency - if the action(s) in question taken by the business fall within the jurisdiction of that agency. The bill includes a requirement to annually report to the House and Senate the number of investigations conducted, the number of applications to the superior court submitted and the outcomes of such actions.  H.7993 was submitted at the request of Attorney General Peter Neronha.  The bill can be viewed at https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7993.pdf  
 
Testimony can be emailed to [email protected]
  
Electricity Cost Increase to Certain Customers
 
The House Corporations Committee is meeting at the Rise to discuss H.7880, An Act Relating to Public Utilities and Carriers.  The bill creates a tiered rate system for electricity and natural gas customers whose household income level is below 150% of the federal poverty level. For these households, the plan envisions capping electric rates to ensure that they pay no more than 3% of their income on electricity or 6% of their income if the house utilizes electricity as a sole source of heat.  The program will be funded by increasing rates on all other customers.  Rhode Island customers currently pay the fifth highest residential electricity rates in the country, third highest commercial rates, and second highest industrial rates according to the Energy Information Agency’s most recent data. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, January, 2026, Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Consumers by End-Use Sector.  https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a)  It is a challenge the state faces as it tries to attract businesses which bring with them jobs that help lift people out of poverty. 
 
Testimony can be sent to [email protected]
  
Wednesday, April 8th
 
Paid Time Off For Blood Donation
 
The Senate Labor Committee is meeting at 4:00 and will hear testimony on two bills of interest.  S.2928, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act requires employers to provide full-time employees four hours of paid leave once a year to donate blood through any approved blood donation program.  The bill stipulates that the employee is to be paid at the regular rate of pay and the employer can require proof of the donation.  An employee may only use this benefit once a year.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2928.pdf
 
AI in the Workplace
 
S.2499, 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.  The legislation: (1) Sets rules for “inputs and outputs” generated by AI when used to make significant decisions about workers, (2) Addresses the collection of data through electronic monitoring and time-tracking tools by banning such use unless  the collection purpose meets specific needs set in the legislation (3) Covers “work process information” related to an individual’s productivity. This 11-page bill can be viewed at https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2499.pdf
 
Testimony for either bill can be sent to the committee at [email protected]
 
 AI Generated Material
 
The House Committee on Innovation, Internet & Technology is meeting at 4:00 on Wednesday.  H.7543, An Act Relating to Commercial Law – Internet Access and Advertising by Facsimile, requires video or photography generated by artificial intelligence that is posted on a public platform and that is viewable in Rhode Island must contain a marking disclosing that the video or photo has been generated by AI. Any violation of this provision by a for-profit entity would constitute a deceptive trade practice. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7543.pdf  
 
Testimony can be sent to [email protected]
   
Commerce Corporation, Qualified Jobs Incentives, Interest on Judgments and Tax Treatments
 
The House Finance Committee will meet at 4:00 to discuss four economic development initiatives.
 
H.7311, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government – RI Commerce Corporation, limits the authority of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to finance any transaction to $5,000,000 for any one individual, business entity or project.  The Commerce Corporation must come to the General Assembly for approval for projects requiring an amount over that threshold.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7311.pdf
 
H.7505, An Act Relating to Taxation – RI New Qualified Jobs Incentive Act 2015, sunsets/discontinues the Jobs Development Act rate reduction as of July 1, 2026. This program   currently offers businesses an opportunity to expand their workforce while reducing costs. 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. Businesses must create a minimum number of new full-time jobs, varying by industry and company size, with a minimum threshold of 10 new jobs in most cases.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7505.pdf
 
H.7810, An Act Relating to Taxation – State Tax Officials, caps the interest rate for all delinquent taxes at twelve percent. It also limits the tax administrator’s authority to audit taxpayers to three years from the date of the tax filing. For fraudulent returns, the audit period would cover up to seven years, but in no event, could an audit be performed beyond ten years. The bill proposes an effective date of January 1, 2027, and applies to all assessments, audits and tax payments, including delinquent taxes, initiated on or after that date.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7810.pdf
 
H.8195, An Act Relating to Taxation – RI Local Investment Tax Credit Act, provides an investment tax credit to a taxpayer that makes a qualified investment in a local qualified business of ninety-nine employees or less. The program would be funded by a Rhode Island Commerce Corporation strategic fund. The bill also anticipates the use of annual general revenue appropriations.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8195.pdf
 
Testimony on any of these bills can be sent to [email protected]
  
Thursday, April 9th
 
Business Identity Fraud
 
The House Judiciary Committee will meet at the Rise on Thursday.  H.8060, An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Impersonation and Identity Fraud, aims to modernize the state's identity fraud laws to include protections against digital forgery and the impersonation of businesses or government agencies.  H.8060 clarifies that it is a crime to knowingly impersonate an entity with the intent to facilitate fraud.  It introduces protections against the creation or distribution of a fake digital likeness of a person or entity intended to deceive without consent. It expands the definition of "means of identification" to include logos and trademarks.  A person or entity that is found in violation of the law would be subject to three years in prison and/or a fine up to $5000 for the first offense; three to five years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000 for a second offense; and five to ten years in prison and/or a fine of at least $15,000 for subsequent offenses.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8060.pdf
Testimony can be submitted at: [email protected]
 
Employee Ownership Tax Credit
 
The House Finance Committee will meet at the Rise on Thursday.  On the agenda is the Lt. Governor’s bill, H.7696, An Act Relating to Taxation – Employee Ownership Tax Credit.  The bill is designed to encourage businesses to transition to employee-owned models like Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) or worker cooperatives.   Businesses can claim a credit of up to 50% of "conversion costs" (legal, accounting, etc.) for transitioning to an ESOP/employee trust (capped at $100,000) or other equity structures (capped at $25,000). Existing employee-owned firms can receive a 50% credit (up to $25,000) for expanding ownership by at least 20%.  The program is to be administered by the Office of Business Development with a total cap of $1,000,000 in annual credits, which are refundable.  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7696.pdf
Testimony can be submitted at: [email protected]
   
New Introductions
 
Senate Bill No. 3190  Famiglietti, LaMountain, Dimitri, Bissaillon, Patalano, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DECISIONS, SPECIAL FINDINGS AND ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES (Adds the doctrine of assumption of risk to the current comparative negligence statute.)  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3190.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 3193  LaMountain, Burke, Famiglietti, Bissaillon, Dimitri, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Provides for punitive damages in civil actions where there is willful or wanton conduct or a reckless disregard for health, safety and welfare.)  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3193.pdf
 
Senate Bill No. 3200  McKenney, LaMountain, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (Prohibits an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or employee, to commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice; individuals would be held personally liable for such conduct.)  https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S3200.pdf