Rhode Island lawmakers kicked off the 2025 legislative session with committee hearings on pieces of legislation that will impact your small business.

NFIB submitted testimony to both the House and Senate Revenue Committees opposing Governor McKee’s plans to tax digital advertisements and to increase the administrative fee overseeing the state’s workers’ compensation fund.

In the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, NFIB submitted comments in opposition to a clean heat standard bill that would increase the cost of fuel for Rhode Islanders. NFIB argued that residents and businesses already face high energy bills and that a similar proposal in Vermont is projected to cost upwards of 70 cents per gallon more for heating fuel.

NFIB also testified on several bills in the House Labor Committee last week. First, state director Christopher Carlozzi opposed the bill creating an “extreme” temperature mandate in Rhode Island. The bill demands employers with staff in vehicles, warehouses, or that work outdoors, follow rigid guidelines or face legal action. The bill requires everything from cooling vests to suntan lotion to jackets be provided for workers in temperatures above 90 degrees and below 32 degrees. It also sets a quarterly meeting requirement for managers and supervisors, while demanding workers also attend quarterly meetings on their rights under this law. NFIB argued this bill would open employers up to frivolous and costly lawsuits. Similarly, NFIB opposed the so-called workplace bullying bill that allows workers to sue their employers for a wide range of vague reasons.

As hearings continue, we ask that you keep an eye on your inbox for updates and alerts. If you would like to contact your lawmakers on how the temperature bill impacts your business, please use our Action Alert that makes it easy to send an email to your State Representative.