RILBMDA Legislative Update: March 2024
The 2024 Rhode Island General Assembly has finally quickened its pace. Bill introductions have increased dramatically as evidenced by the Senate releasing over 250 new bills this past weekend. The initial bill introduction period has passed. As expected, there are countless bills of interest and concern for the business community. The Senate, not always friendly […]
RILBMDA Legislative Update: January 2024
The Slow Start Continues The 2024 Rhode Island General Assembly Session continues at its slow pace. However, do not be deceived as well over 2000 bills will be introduced by the February 15, 2024 first deadline. In 2023, almost 2700 bills were introduced of which a few hundred were enacted. Additional bills can be introduced […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update: Final Report 2023
The 2023 Rhode Island General Assembly Session concluded on June 15, 2023. However, transmitting bills to the Governor for his consideration continued until the month’s end. Our legislative process permits the Governor to sign a bill into law, veto the legislation or do nothing such that the bill automatically becomes law without his signature. Your […]
RILBMDA 2023 Legislative Priorities
HB.5902 Payment of Wages Act RILBMDA asks that members of the General Assembly oppose this bill or at the very least make amendments to account for human error and accidental mistakes. This bill lacks verbiage that would protect employers from innocent human and technical error. “Any employer who knowingly or willfully violates…” is left up […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update
April 2023
Bill Decision Time is Approaching Since the General Assembly (G.A.) returned from its spring recess the pace has quickened. This is evidenced by lengthy hearings as more legislation is being heard. Most bills are heard and held until its decision-making time on a bill’s passage or failure during the 2023 General Assembly Session. The G.A. […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update
March 2023
State News: The first two plus months were extremely quiet for even the Rhode Island General Assembly.However, the pace for both bill introductions and lengthy committee hearings have quickenedovernight. This is evidenced by some legislative committees recently scheduling as many as 37pieces of legislation for hearing and/or votes (so far bills of virtually no consequence) […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update
February 2023
State News: We are now in the third month of the 2023 General Assembly (GA) session, and finally the GA is in full speed. To date, almost 1600 pieces of legislation and resolutions have been introduced, and we are told to expect more than 1000 additional bills. If so, we will be reviewing many bills […]
Paid Sick Leave Regulations Overview
Healthy and Safe Families Workplace Act: What You Need to Know In 2017, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Healthy and Safe Families Workplace Act, which mandated that employers offer employees paid sick leave. The Governor signed the legislation into law in September 2017. After months of proposed rule making by the Dept. of […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update
January 2023
State News: The 2023-24 General Assembly session has started with a whimper. Both the House and Senate have scheduled limited sessions for the month of January. The Senate has formally announced committees and in fact two Senate committee have a scheduled hearing the week of January 31. The Senate Composition remains the same i.e. 33 […]
Rhode Island Legislative Update
May 2022
Entering the Home Stretch The Rhode Island General Assembly has entered the home stretch. This means, both the House and the Senate will be negotiating on legislation, as will the Governor’s office. Many of these bills are the more important and many times more controversial bills. The tentative date for completing the 2022 legislative session […]