Under The Dome: January 2024

Last Week At the State House

The introduction of bills has begun with 246 pieces of legislation already assigned a number. Many are simple resolutions, while others are issues the Chamber has seen before: raising benefits for TDI/TCI, minimum wage studies, changes to sales tax collections, etc. Hearings on these bills are expected to begin within the next two to three weeks.

The legislature has also updated its website www.rilegislature.gov. It was redesigned to be more user friendly. If you wish to see hearing notices or bills in the old page format, press the “Bills & Laws” button to get to that page.

The following new bills have been filed:

House Bill No. 7084 Phillips, Serpa, Costantino, Lima, Corvese, Casey, J. Brien, Morales, Cardillo, Fenton-Fung, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VEHICLE BARRIERS-THE CHARLOTTE A. VACCA ACT (Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishment locations when construction/renovations are being done and permits insurers to consider the installation to provide a discount on the owner's insurance policy.) H7084.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7089 Noret, Casimiro, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES (Requires that a business entity that is selling goods or services at retail

offering a digital coupon to a consumer would also have to offer a paper coupon of identical value.) H7089.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7090 Phillips, Serpa, Costantino, Lima, Corvese, Casey, J. Brien, Morales, Cardillo, Fenton-Fung, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES (Providers of a club, facility, or services to a consumer must stop automatic deductions from the consumer's account or credit card within 30 calendar days of receiving a notice to stop from the consumer.) H7090.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Resolution No. 7093 Craven, Shanley, HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS FOR HEALTHCARE LIABILITY REFORM (This resolution creates a 15 member special legislative commission to study and provide recommendations and comments for healthcare liability reform, and who would report back to the House by January 1, 2025, and expire on February 1, 2025.) H7093.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7095 Kislak, Shallcross Smith, Spears, Ajello, Speakman, Carson, Cotter, Caldwell, Giraldo, Potter, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DIGITAL ELECTRONICS RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT (Establishes a digital electronics right to repair, which would allow for digital electronic equipment and parts that are sold in this state on or after January 1, 2025, to be repaired at an independent repair provider.) H7095.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7104 Bennett, McNamara, Carson, Hull, Edwards, Corvese, Potter, Baginski, Kazarian, O'Brien, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- CORROSION PREVENTION AND MITIGATION WORK REQUIREMENTS (Gives authority to the DLT to enforce violations of the laws relating to corrosion prevention and mitigation work requirements. Also adds civil monetary penalties for violations of those laws.) H7104.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7106 Craven, Shanley, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT (Protects free speech/religious freedom/freedom of assembly rights in the workplace with a civil action to recover compensatory/punitive damages for employer discipline or discharge including attorneys' fees.) H7106.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7112 Noret, Casimiro, Finkelman, Corvese, Costantino, Nardone, Place, Speakman, Shallcross Smith, Cardillo, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES (Allows the waiver of interest on overdue taxes for commercial properties.) H7112.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7121 Phillips, Serpa, Costantino, Lima, Corvese, Casey, J. Brien, Cardillo, Fenton-Fung, Bennett, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- STATE TAX OFFICIALS (Limits the assessment of interest to 4 calendar years prior to the date on which notice of the delinquent payment is sent to the taxpayer.) H7121.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7127 (General Treasurer) Shanley, Shekarchi, Craven, Carson, Abney, Donovan, Serpa, Edwards, McEntee, Slater, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- RHODE ISLAND RETIREMENT SAVINGS PROGRAM ACT (Establishes Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program to be administered by the general treasurer.) H7127.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7171 Giraldo, Kazarian, Casimiro, Alzate, Potter, Voas, Stewart, Cruz, Boylan, Morales, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Includes siblings, grandchildren, care recipient for temporary caregiver benefits of 12 weeks/Increases weekly dependent's allowances from $10 to $20 or 7% of benefit rate whichever is greater. Effective January 1, 2025.) H7171.pdf (state.ri.us)

House Bill No. 7173 Sanchez, Cruz, Stewart, Giraldo, J. Lombardi, Hull, Felix, Tanzi, Morales, Speakman, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS’ COMPENSATION -- BENEFITS (Prevents employers from discriminating against an employee because the employee has exercised a right and worker's compensation benefits.) H7173.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2028 DiMario, Bissaillon, F. Lombardi, Pearson, Raptakis, Lawson, Euer, Cano, Murray, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- OUTDOOR DINING ACT (Establishes standards governing the municipal regulation of outdoor dining at food service establishments.) S2028.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2045 (General Treasurer) Kallman, Ruggerio, Murray, Cano, Acosta, Rogers, McKenney, Euer, Mack, Bissaillon, AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE -- RHODE ISLAND RETIREMENT SAVINGS PROGRAM ACT

(Establishes Rhode Island Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program to be administered by the general treasurer.) S2045.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2049

BY de la Cruz, Rogers, DeLuca, Paolino, E Morgan, Ciccone, F. Lombardi, Burke, Lombardo

ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Reduces the sales tax rate to 5%.) S2049.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2064 Tikoian, Pearson, Gallo, Burke, LaMountain, Lawson, Felag, Euer, Lombardo, Ciccone, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES – LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Increases the net taxable estate exemption to four million dollars ($4,000,000) for deaths that occur on or after January 1, 2025.) S2064.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2065 Paolino, Rogers, E Morgan, DeLuca, de la Cruz, F. Lombardi, Gallo, Pearson, Tikoian, Raptakis, AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES--LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION (Increases the net taxable estate exemption to three million six hundred thousand dollars ($3,600,000) on January 1, 2025. Also increases the exemption by one million dollars ($1,000,000) on January 1 per year thereafter.) S2065.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2084 Lauria, Lawson, Valverde, Miller, Cano, DiMario, Murray, Euer, Bissaillon, Britto, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS IN CHILDREN RELIEF FUND (Establishes Children's Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide finance assistance to families for medical expenses not covered by state or federal programs or insurance contract.) This proposed new program is paid for through an employer tax of $1.50 per employee. S2084.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2111 de la Cruz, Ciccone, Lombardo, Burke, Rogers, DeLuca, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION (Provides for a cause of action against an individual or entity that prohibits the possession of firearms on real property, except residences, by an individual that is authorized and licensed to carry a firearm.) S2111.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2121 Lawson, Ruggerio, Pearson, Bissaillon, Lauria, DiMario, Euer, Gallo, Cano, Miller, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS

-- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Includes siblings, grandchildren, care recipient for temporary caregiver benefits of 12 weeks/Increases weekly dependent's allowances from $10 to $20 or 7% of benefit rate whichever is greater. Effective January 1, 2025.) S2121.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2122 Acosta, Cano, Quezada, Mack, Ciccone, Zurier, Gu, Bell, Kallman, Euer, AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- WORKERS' COOPERATIVES (Clarifies the role of a workers' cooperative to allow it to operate as a hiring hall under certain circumstances.) S2122.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2123 Acosta, Cano, Kallman, Mack, Ciccone, Zurier, Gu, Quezada, Bell, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES (Requires employer to furnish items and conditions of employment and a pay stub explaining how wages were calculated/reasons for deductions/allows the employee to file a court action against employer for violation.) S2123.pdf (state.ri.us) Senate Resolution No. 2124 Raptakis, Ciccone, F. Lombardi, Lombardo, Britto, Burke, LaMountain, Quezada, Tikoian, SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND REVIEW RHODE ISLAND'S MINIMUM WAGE S2124.pdf (state.ri.us)

Senate Bill No. 2128 Felag, F. Lombardi, Ciccone, Lombardo, Tikoian, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- POSTING OF VETERANS' BENEFITS AND SERVICES (Requires employers in the state with more than 50 employees to display a poster containing basic information on veterans' benefits and services be created and distributed by the DLT in consultation with the office of veterans services.) S2128.pdf (state.ri.us)