Under the Dome: Advocacy in Action

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