Governor McKee Unveils Budget
The Governor released his budget January 16th. Over the next few editions of Advocacy in Action, we will share summaries of the various Articles of interest to the business community. The $14.2 billion budget includes program cuts, as well as targeted taxes and fees in an effort to deal with annual anticipated increased revenues of 2.5% coupled with increasing expenditures of 3.7%. Article 5 – Relating to Taxes and Fees This 64-page article (https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText25/HouseText25/Article-006.pdf) contains a wide variety of program sunsets, tax and fee increases and new collection tools. The following is a list of items in the article:
Department of Labor Issues New Rule for Employees Ages 14 and 15 In 2022, the General Assembly passed a law affecting children ages 14 or 15 who wish to be employed. In addition to obtaining a permit from the local school district to work during non-school hours, beginning February 4, 2025, the employee must also now complete a three-hour mandatory training program to learn about workers’ rights, workplace safety and workers’ compensation. The Department of Labor and Training, charged in the law with implementing the program, released its regulations last week announcing that the program will be handled by the Institute for Labor Studies & Research. https://www.riilsr.org/ This program may be available virtually. Failure to comply could result in a fine of $500 for each offense. 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 [email protected]. 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. 5043 Azzinaro, Fellela, Serpa, Casimiro, Kennedy, Corvese ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES (Provides protection from and prevent the unethical, improper conduct and the collection of fees by, anyone advising or assisting a veteran filing a claim for disability benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs except as authorized by federal law.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5043.pdf House Bill No. 5047 Shanley, Craven, O'Brien, Dawson, Solomon, McEntee, Corvese, Fellela, Kennedy, Edwards, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WAREHOUSE WORKER PROTECTION ACT (Requires employers to provide each employee of a warehouse distribution center, upon hire, with written description of quotas applicable to the employee within defined time periods and adverse employment action for failure to meet the quota.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5047.pdf House Bill No. 5075 (Governor) BY AbneyENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO MAKING REVISED APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2025 https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5075.pdf House Bill No. 5076 (Governor) BY AbneyENTITLED, AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2026 https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5076.pdf House Bill No. 5083 BY Fellela, Serpa, Messier, Corvese, Ackerman, Caldwell ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS REQUIRED AT PUBLIC PLACES AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES (Requires public or private golf courses to have an automated external defibrillator on the premises.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H5083.pdf
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