Welcome back to our ongoing series breaking down the new laws coming out of the Rhode Island State House this summer. While many of us were enjoying the start of school break, lawmakers finalized a slate of bills that will soon affect workplaces, public safety, and how we vote. In this segment, we’re looking at three significant changes: new protections for employees experiencing menopause, a tough new penalty for attempted kidnapping of a minor, and a major simplification of the mail-in ballot process.

First up, the workplace. An update to the state’s Fair Employment Practices Act, H6161, now requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with conditions related to menopause. This puts menopause on the same legal footing as pregnancy and childbirth, mandating things like more frequent breaks, modified work schedules, or a temporary transfer to a less strenuous position, unless it poses an “undue hardship” on the business. It’s a move that recognizes a biological reality for a huge segment of the workforce that has long been ignored in employment law.

Shifting to criminal justice, a new law, H5639, creates a specific felony for the attempted kidnapping of a minor. What does that mean? It means that even if the crime isn’t completed, the act of attempting to kidnap a child can now be prosecuted as its own serious offense, carrying a sentence of up to twenty years. This gives prosecutors a much clearer and more powerful tool to address situations where a potential tragedy is narrowly averted, sending a strong message about protecting children.

Finally, there’s a big change for voters. With S0520, the state has opened up the permanent mail ballot application list to *all* registered voters. Previously, you had to be disabled or in a nursing home to qualify. Now, anyone can sign up to automatically receive an *application* for a mail ballot before every election. It’s a small change in language but a huge leap for accessibility. The bill also includes a temporary measure, expiring at the end of 2025, that allows eligible voters with disabilities to receive and return their ballots electronically.

From the office to the ballot box, these new laws represent meaningful adjustments to daily life in Rhode Island. They reflect a focus on expanding personal rights and strengthening public safety. We’ll be back soon to unpack more of the legislation signed into law this summer.