This week, NFIB submitted testimony for a wide assortment of bills impacting small businesses. While last week had a strong focus on minimum wage legislation, this week’s hearings had a wide range of topics.

There was a group of bills that could harm the state’s retailers with proposals to:

• Demand paper coupons/discounts be made available if a digital coupon was offered or the business faces a $500 fine.
• Limit the number of self-checkouts per business.
• Mandate a public accommodation restroom (this means private businesses) install a changing table that can hold up to 350 lbs.

Two bills impacting energy were also heard that would:

• Create a climate superfund, potentially raising energy costs as the expense is passed on to consumers.
• Require building owners to file energy use reports to the state.

Other pieces of legislation would have a larger impact on how you interact with your workforce by:

• Prohibiting business owners from discussing the effects of unionization on a business as part of a “captive audience” bill that claims to support worker free speech.
• Mandating workers in warehouses, vehicles, and outdoors have certain provisions provided to them (coats, gloves, suntan lotion, cooling vests) in warm or cold temperatures.

Finally, a bill that would introduce a single payer healthcare system in Rhode Island paid for via employer taxes had a hearing again this year.  Vermont legislators attempted something similar but had to abandon the plan because it would have bankrupted the state.

NFIB submitted testimony in opposition to all these harmful pieces of legislation.  We will continue to update you on key bills as the legislative process continues this session.