This Week At the State House
The House posted the Budget for consideration in the House Finance Committee on both Tuesday and Wednesday. This will allow the committee to use Wednesday as a backup in the event the budget documents are not ready Tuesday. Legislative bills continue to post as the House and Senate reach agreements on some bills while opposing versions of others linger leaving their resolution in question. The following bills are posted for consideration and/or hearing this week. Tuesday, June 10th FY2026 Budget House Finance has scheduled, H.5076, An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2026. The hearing will be live streamed, although the starting time is difficult to predict as it is dependent upon completion of documents. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv Noncompete Agreements S.302, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Rhode Island Noncompetition Agreement Act, is scheduled for a vote At the Rise in room 313. Current law bans businesses from entering into noncompete agreements with individuals that make 250% of the federal poverty level or less ($39,125 for a single person). S.302 would strike this language, making noncompete agreements illegal unless it is entered into as part of a sale of the business. The bill adds a provision allowing businesses to enter into agreements with employees not to share customer lists and future business plans. If an employee violates such an agreement, the employer can be awarded injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0302.pdf Minimum Wage Increase S.125, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Minimum Wages, will be voted on in the Senate Labor Committee. This bill calls for five years of consecutive $1 increases, reaching $20 an hour in 2030. Last week the House passed a two-year increase of $1 per year, reaching $17 in 2027. The Chamber has been actively working on this issue with members of the General Assembly and Labor. Last Friday night, the Senate posted a SubA for S.125 to mirror the House two-year proposal. Massachusetts currently has a minimum wage of $15. Connecticut’s minimum wage is $16.35 with an automatic annual increase tied to the Employment Cost Index that is re-calculated each October 15th. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/Proposed25/S0125A.pdf “Mini” Employee Handbook H.5679, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Payment of Wages, is scheduled for a vote in amended form. The bill changes an employer’s responsibilities as it relates to providing a type of “mini employee handbook” (in English) to employees when they are hired. The information must include: rate or rates of pay and the basis for pay (hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission, or other method), allowances, if any, for meals and lodging; employer's policy on sick, vacation, personal leave, holidays and hours; employee's employment status and whether the employee is exempt from minimum wage and/or overtime; a list of deductions that may be made from the employee's pay; number of days in the pay period, the regularly scheduled payday, and the payday on which the employee will receive the first payment of wages earned; legal name of the employer and the operating name of the employer, if different from its legal name; physical address of the employer's main office or principal place of business, and its mailing address if different; and telephone number of the employer. If passed, and signed by the Governor, the new law would go into effect upon passage. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/Proposed25/H5679A.pdf Outdoor Dining Temporary Building H.6392, An Act Relating to Towns and Cities – Outdoor Dining Act, is scheduled for hearing, and perhaps quick passage. The bill allows a food service establishment to provide temporary outdoor dining services any time a building or other structure used as a food service establishment is rendered uninhabitable by virtue of a casualty i.e. fire or flood. The temporary building could be used for 18 months or until the building is fit for occupancy. If passed, the law would sunset June 30, 2027. This bill is directed at the Matunuck Oyster Bar. https://status.rilegislature.gov/documents/agenda-21107.aspx The Senate version is also scheduled for hearing and possible consideration Tuesday in the Senate Committee on Housing & Municipal Government https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S1139.pdf Wednesday, June 11th FY2026 Budget House Finance has scheduled a second hearing date and time if needed. H.5076, An Act Making Appropriations for the Support of the State for Fiscal year Ending June 30, 2026, could be voted on 5:00pm on June 11th, if the budget does not receive a vote Tuesday. The hearing will be live streamed. Livestreaming is available at https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv The following new bills have been filed: House Bill No. 6387 Felix, Cortvriend, Diaz, Kislak, Corvese, Handy, Morales, Alzate, Stewart, Hull, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIDESHARE OR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY VEHICLE SURCHARGE (Imposes a seventy-five cent (0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6387.pdf Senate Bill No. 1131 Zurier, Bissaillon, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES--LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Authorizes municipalities to impose a ticket tax on ticket sales for venues large enough to hold at least eight hundred (800) patrons, seated, of seven percent (7%) per ticket. The tax shall be redistributed to the locality where the venue is located.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S1131.pdf
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This Week At the State House
We are awaiting the posting of the FY2026 budget in the House Finance Committee. The Committee is hoping to take it up this week for a vote. If that happens, the full House will debate and vote on the budget seven days later in accordance with the House rules. Meanwhile other committees are busy passing amended forms of bills that were heard over the last five months. Amendments to bills can be posted online 24 hours before the vote is taken and bills can be amended on the floor as well. The following is a list of bills scheduled for a vote or a hearing this week as of Sunday, June 1, 2025. Monday, June 2nd Senate Labor & Gaming Committee at 5:30 – Votes Only S.70, An Act Relating to Payment of Wages, changes an employer’s responsibilities as it relates to providing employees with statements of earnings. Today employers must include the hours worked, deductions from gross earnings and an explanation of those deductions. The legislation adds items such as the last four digits of the social security number, deduction explanations in “understandable language and form,” the employer’s address and name, and output information if pay is based on quantity. The bill was altered compared to last year’s bill to clarify that employers must only keep records for three years which is consistent with current law. It also requires employers to provide a type of “mini employee handbook” to employees. The sponsor did change the bill to include English as the language for the handbook. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0070.pdf S.124, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Labor Relations Act changes the definition of “employee” under Rhode Island law. Members of the unions are pushing this bill as a means to head off any changes in the National Labor Relations Board. S.124 is scheduled to be amended as the Chamber requested related to the definition of “employee.” The new definition, if passed, will read “"Employee" specifically includes any teaching assistants, research assistants, fellows, residential assistants and proctors who perform services for an employer or are under an employer's control or right of control, in return for payment or other compensation, notwithstanding whether the employee is a student, or the supervised teaching, research, or other services are a component of their academic development.” These individuals are currently covered in Rhode Island. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/Proposed25/S0124A.pdf S.361, An Act Relating to Fair Employment Practices expands the current law to include menopause and menopause related conditions in the law on fair employment practices pertaining to pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0361.pdf S.586, An Act Relating to Health and Safety, requires employers, starting January 1, 2026, to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandate training, to recognize and mitigate heat and cold-related risks. The act would require the department of health to establish and implement the training program. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0586.pdf S.622, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations, removes a sunset provision in the unemployment benefit arena. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Assembly and Governor increased the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant could receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits and increased the amount of earnings disregarded when calculating a weekly benefit rate. At the time, it was deemed necessary because jobs were hard to find as many places were forcibly closed by the state. The law is about to sunset June 30, 2025. S.622 removes the sunset, making the benefit calculation permit. The bill was introduced at the request of DLT. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S0622.pdf Tuesday, June 3rd Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing on one bill of interest at the Rise in room 211. S.1040, An Act Relating to Taxation – Tax on Gains from the Sale or Exchange of Real Property, was introduced May 9th for the first time. The bill creates a new tax on gains from the sale or exchange of real property held for six years or less. *Gain, as a percentage of basis (tax cost) Years property held by transferor 0-99% 100-199% 200% or more Less than 4 months 60% 70% 80% 4 months, but less than 8 35% 52.5% 70% 8 months but less than 1 year 30% 45% 60% 1 year, but less than 2 25% 37.5% 50% 2 years, but less than 3 20% 30% 40% 3 years, but less than 4 15% 22.5% 30% 4 years, but less than 5 10% 15% 20% 5 years, but less than 6 5% 7.5% 10% The bill can be viewed in its entirety at https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/SenateText25/S1040.pdf Testimony can be submitted to [email protected] House Labor Committee Vote At the Rise H.5029, An Act Relating to Labor and Labor Relations – Minimum Wage is scheduled for a vote. The SubA posted version calls for two increases in the minimum wage - $16 starting January 1, 2026; and $17 starting January 1, 2027. This amended version does not include the business community’s request to phase out the Sunday premium pay requirements that only exist in this state and no other. https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/Proposed25/H5029A.pdf The following new bills have been filed: House Bill No. 6365 Cotter, Carson, Speakman, Boylan, Spears, Potter, Cruz, Stewart, Giraldo, Casimiro, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RETAIL DELIVERY FEE (Imposes a fifty cent delivery fee (tax) per transaction for deliveries in the state.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6365.pdf House Bill No. 6378 Morales, Shallcross Smith, Felix, Cruz, Potter, Stewart, Giraldo, AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT (Provides for the sealing of eviction records under certain circumstances.) https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText25/HouseText25/H6378.pdf Advocacy in Action May 27, 2025
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