The legislative gears on Smith Hill are grinding at full speed, churning out a mix of ambitious new proposals and advancing long-debated measures toward the finish line. This past week saw the introduction of blockbuster bills that could reshape Rhode Islanders’ rights at work and online, not to mention inside the classroom. At the same time, a host of significant bills concerning public health, city finances, and civil liberties cleared key hurdles, with some officially becoming law.

What’s New

Two amended proposals with the potential for massive impact were introduced, aiming to change the rules for workers and data privacy. A revised version of the Rhode Island Noncompetition Agreement Act would make most non-compete agreements unenforceable for any employee earning $125,000 or less per year, a significant shift that would free up a large portion of the workforce to change jobs without restriction. On the digital front, an updated Identity Theft Protection Act seeks to dramatically strengthen consumer protections. It would broaden the definition of personal data to include biometric and internet information, require businesses to implement stronger security, and set firm 30-to-45-day deadlines for notifying residents of a data breach. Following a breach, government agencies would be on the hook to provide at least five years of identity theft remediation services.

Parents and students will be watching H5598A, a bill requiring all public schools to adopt a policy that prohibits students from physically accessing their personal electronic devices during the school day. The bill includes exceptions for medical needs and special education plans.

Other significant new bills address criminal justice, healthcare, and local taxes. An amended bill, S0876A, would expand eligibility for criminal record expungement, allowing individuals with multiple non-violent misdemeanors or felonies to clear their records after a waiting period. The state’s Temporary Disability and Caregiver Insurance programs would be expanded under S0974aa, which would increase the wage cap for contributions and gradually extend paid caregiver leave from six to eight weeks. In healthcare, S0786A would prevent Medicaid from requiring prior authorization for certain anticonvulsant and antipsychotic medications. And in Providence, a pair of bills (S1116Aaa and H6090A) would give the city new powers to create different property tax subclassifications and raise commercial tax rates.

A flurry of other amended bills were also introduced, including proposals to create a legal defense for victims of sex trafficking, regulate medical spas, and mandate cameras on school buses to catch illegal passers. Also introduced were several hyper-local bills dealing with a juvenile hearing board in Smithfield and a potential tax increase in Glocester.

What’s Moving

Several key pieces of legislation have now become law. The city of Warwick has officially been authorized to borrow up to $50 million for the construction of two new high schools, as detailed in S1096. A statewide crackdown on “forever chemicals” is also now law, with H5019 phasing out the use of PFAS in firefighting foam and protective gear. Another new law, S0983A, establishes a “PURPLE alert” system to help find missing adults with disabilities. And homeowners gained protection with S0133A, a law that voids unfair, long-term real estate service agreements.

A number of bills are just one step away from becoming law after passing the floor of either the House or Senate. This includes H5961A, which greatly expands the types of educational and community organizations that can get financing help from the RI Health and Educational Building Corporation. Also passing the floor were several bills impacting Warwick, giving the city more flexibility on property tax rates and making several changes to its charter.

Many more bills cleared a major hurdle by passing out of committee. A proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage incrementally to $20.00 per hour by 2030 (S0125) is now headed for a full floor vote. The same is true for S0268, a bill that would require most health insurance plans to cover a wide range of contraceptives with no out-of-pocket costs. The “Freedom to Read Act” (H5726), which sets standards for how libraries handle book challenges, also advanced. A bill effectively banning payday loans (H5042) by repealing the framework that allows them passed its committee, as did a bill (H5909) that extends the time limit for childhood sexual abuse victims to file civil lawsuits.

As the session barrels forward, these bills represent some of the most significant policy debates taking shape. The coming weeks will determine which of these proposals make it over the final hurdles to the governor’s desk and which will have to wait for another year.