The Rhode Island House and Senate ended their official business for 2023 with several pieces of legislation awaiting final approval from Governor McKee. Here is a brief synopsis of legislation that NFIB focused on this session.
The Good:
- Several proposals to increase the state minimum wage to $20 and higher failed for the 2023 session. This included legislation to penalize businesses that use automated checkout lanes.
- The creation of a $50,000 tangible property tax exemption was signed into law.
- While the Senate voted in favor of a so-called “psychological bullying bill” that could have opened employers to frivolous lawsuits, the House did not advance the bill.
- The Senate also approved a bill that claimed to protect worker’s free speech, but instead would inhibit a small business owner’s free speech preventing them from discussing the impact of unionization in the workplace. The House did not take up this proposal, meaning it did not become law.
The Bad:
- Lawmakers voted to ban the use of polystyrene containers and plastic drink stirrers in food service establishments.**
- Larger retailers will be mandated to include electric vehicle charging stations for new or substantially expanded parking lots that utilize any public funding for the project.**
- Governor McKee’s proposed tax relief to lower the state sales tax, reduce the minimum corporate tax, and freeze the gas tax did not gain approval from House and Senate leadership.
The Ugly:
- Employers who willfully misclassify or commit wage theft will be susceptible to felony charges and increased fines. This bill was made less onerous in response to concerns from NFIB and other business groups after arguing employers who made unintentional errors or legitimate wage disputes should not be charged with a felony. The bill will use the Fair Labor Standards Act to determine an employee, rather than a rigid Massachusetts-like three-part test. Independent contractors must also now file an annual designation form.**
**Proposals awaiting a final signature from Governor McKee
