Bill Sponsors
Corvese, O'Brien, Noret, Shanley, Azzinaro, Kennedy, Solomon, Bennett, Read, and J. Brien
Committee
House Finance
Summary
Select
This legislation restores the right of state employees, including those in higher education, elementary and secondary education, and quasi-public corporations, to negotiate for longevity payments. Longevity payments are salary increases based on the length of an employee's service. While a 2011 law prohibited these increases and froze existing ones, this bill amends the law to allow longevity payments to be included in collective bargaining agreements starting on July 1, 2026. Essentially, it permits unions and the state to once again negotiate tenure-based bonuses after a fifteen-year pause.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Restores collective bargaining rights that were stripped in 2011, empowering unions to negotiate better compensation packages for public sector workers.
- Incentivizes long-term public service by allowing financial rewards for tenure, potentially reducing turnover and ensuring that experienced staff remain in government roles to serve the community.
- Improves the economic stability of state employees by opening a pathway to wage increases that recognize dedication, helping to maintain a strong middle class.
Cons for Progressives
- Delays the implementation of these rights until July 1, 2026, forcing workers to wait several years before they can benefit from reinstated longevity pay negotiations.
- Could potentially strain limited state budgets in the future, creating a tension between funding employee wages and funding direct social services for vulnerable populations.
- Does not guarantee longevity payments, but only the right to negotiate for them, meaning the actual benefit to workers depends entirely on the strength of future bargaining agreements.
Pros for Conservatives
- Requires that longevity payments be negotiated through collective bargaining rather than being an automatic statutory entitlement, ensuring some level of administrative oversight and agreement.
- Delays implementation until 2026, preventing immediate fiscal impact and allowing the state ample time to prepare financial projections and budget adjustments.
- Could potentially improve government efficiency by retaining experienced employees, reducing the administrative costs associated with constantly recruiting and training new staff.
Cons for Conservatives
- Reverses the 2011 pension and compensation reforms that were enacted to stabilize the state's financial health, potentially returning Rhode Island to a path of fiscal irresponsibility.
- Empowers public sector unions to demand higher wages based solely on tenure rather than merit or performance, potentially increasing government inefficiency.
- Will likely result in significant long-term costs to taxpayers to fund salary increases for state employees without a guarantee of improved service delivery or reduced taxes.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- State employees
- Quasi-public corporation employees
- Education board employees
- Taxpayers
- Labor unions
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to House Finance
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 16-59-7.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-59 entitled "Council on Postsecondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-59-7.2. Longevity payments — Nonclassified employees.
(a) The non-classified employees of the board of governors for higher education, except for faculty employees and except for non-classified employees already receiving longevity increases, shall be entitled to a longevity payment in the amount of five percent (5%) of base salary after ten (10) years of service and increasing to a total of ten percent (10%) of base salary after twenty (20) years of service. The provisions of this section will apply only to employees under the grade of nineteen (19). The longevity payments shall not be included in base salary.
(b) The board of governors is authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this section.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the board of governors; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(d) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 2. Section 16-60-7.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-60-7.2. Longevity payments — Nonclassified employees.
(a) The non-classified employees of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, except for non-classified employees already receiving longevity increases, shall be entitled to a longevity payment in the amount of five percent (5%) of base salary after ten (10) years of service and increasing to a total of ten percent (10%) of base salary after twenty (20) years of service. The provisions of this section shall apply only to employees under the grade of nineteen (19). The longevity payments shall not be included in base salary.
(b) The board of regents is authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this section.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining LC003560 - Page 2 of 6 agreement, whichever occurs later.
(d) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 3. Sections 36-4-17.1 and 36-4-17.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-4 entitled "Merit System" are hereby amended to read as follows:
36-4-17.1. Longevity payments.
A state employee in the classified or unclassified service who terminates employment and is subsequently reemployed by the state, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the general laws to the contrary, shall be eligible to receive an aggregate longevity increase for the period ofinitial employment. The provisions of this section shall be applied retroactively to those persons reemployed prior to June 1, 1980, and thereafter.
36-4-17.2. Future longevity payments.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for state employees; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the employee shall continue to receive the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 4. Section 36-6-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-6 entitled "Salaries and Traveling Expenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-6-22. Longevity payments.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for officers, secretaries, and employees of the legislative branch, the judicial branch, the office of the governor, the office of the lieutenant governor, the department of state, the department of the attorney general, and the treasury department; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant LC003560 - Page 3 of 6 to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the employee shall continue to receive the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 5. Section 36-16.2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-16.2 entitled "Quasi Public Corporations — Longevity" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-16.2-1. Longevity payments — Quasi public employees.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the quasi-public corporations; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011, or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) For purposes of this section “quasi-public corporation” means a body corporate and politic acting as a public corporation, which has been organized pursuant to law and granted certain powers, rights and privileges by the general laws, while exhibiting a distinct legal existence from the state, and not constituting a department of the state government, in order to perform a governmental function.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements. LC003560 - Page 4 of 6
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage.
16-59-7.2. Longevity payments — Nonclassified employees.
(a) The non-classified employees of the board of governors for higher education, except for faculty employees and except for non-classified employees already receiving longevity increases, shall be entitled to a longevity payment in the amount of five percent (5%) of base salary after ten (10) years of service and increasing to a total of ten percent (10%) of base salary after twenty (20) years of service. The provisions of this section will apply only to employees under the grade of nineteen (19). The longevity payments shall not be included in base salary.
(b) The board of governors is authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this section.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the board of governors; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(d) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 2. Section 16-60-7.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-60 entitled "Council on Elementary and Secondary Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:
16-60-7.2. Longevity payments — Nonclassified employees.
(a) The non-classified employees of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, except for non-classified employees already receiving longevity increases, shall be entitled to a longevity payment in the amount of five percent (5%) of base salary after ten (10) years of service and increasing to a total of ten percent (10%) of base salary after twenty (20) years of service. The provisions of this section shall apply only to employees under the grade of nineteen (19). The longevity payments shall not be included in base salary.
(b) The board of regents is authorized to promulgate regulations implementing the provisions of this section.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining LC003560 - Page 2 of 6 agreement, whichever occurs later.
(d) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 3. Sections 36-4-17.1 and 36-4-17.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-4 entitled "Merit System" are hereby amended to read as follows:
36-4-17.1. Longevity payments.
A state employee in the classified or unclassified service who terminates employment and is subsequently reemployed by the state, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the general laws to the contrary, shall be eligible to receive an aggregate longevity increase for the period of
36-4-17.2. Future longevity payments.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for state employees; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the employee shall continue to receive the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 4. Section 36-6-22 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-6 entitled "Salaries and Traveling Expenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-6-22. Longevity payments.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for officers, secretaries, and employees of the legislative branch, the judicial branch, the office of the governor, the office of the lieutenant governor, the department of state, the department of the attorney general, and the treasury department; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant LC003560 - Page 3 of 6 to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011 or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the employee shall continue to receive the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the same longevity percentage in effect on June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements.
SECTION 5. Section 36-16.2-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-16.2 entitled "Quasi Public Corporations — Longevity" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-16.2-1. Longevity payments — Quasi public employees.
(a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, there shall be no further longevity increases for employees of the quasi-public corporations; provided, however, for employees with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, longevity increases shall cease beginning on July 1, 2011, or beginning upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later. To the extent an employee has previously accrued longevity payments, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the last pay period in June, 2011 shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011, or in the case of an employee with longevity provisions pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement in effect on June 1, 2011, the amount of the longevity payment earned by the employee for the latter of the last pay period in June or the last pay period prior to the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement shall be added to the employee’s base salary as of June 30, 2011 or upon the expiration of the applicable collective bargaining agreement, whichever occurs later.
(b) For purposes of this section “quasi-public corporation” means a body corporate and politic acting as a public corporation, which has been organized pursuant to law and granted certain powers, rights and privileges by the general laws, while exhibiting a distinct legal existence from the state, and not constituting a department of the state government, in order to perform a governmental function.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2026, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or provision of the public laws or general laws to the contrary, state employees may negotiate longevity payments in their subsequent collective bargaining agreements. LC003560 - Page 4 of 6
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage.