Legislative Watch

Issues on the horizon in the RI General Assembly.

During the 2026 General Assembly, the CIRI Legislative Committee has again monitored all submitted bills – while actively making our views known on issues of importance to our members. These highly focused efforts include advocating for substantial infrastructure funding in the RI state budget.

After careful study of a multitude of House and Senate bills, here are a few of the submitted bills we’ve identified as warranting opposition by CIRI for its members.

Budget Article 5: “Millionaires Tax.” (HB 7127) Many companies are generational family businesses and passthrough entities where business income is allocated through the owner’s personal tax return. This would decrease available working capital to reinvest, hire additional employees and increase wages.

Payment of Wages (SB 2932 • HB 7961) This “up the chain” bill would make general contractors civilly liable and/or jointly civilly liable for any claims of wage theft or nonpayment — whether an employee is working anywhere in the chain of the GC, its subcontractors or for subsidiary subcontractors.

Opportunity for Employee Ownership (SB 2744 • HB 7964) Would require any company looking to sell to provide all current full-time and part-time employees with a 30-day window in which to initiate a process to potentially purchase the business as a workers’ cooperative.

Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act of 2011 (SB 2095 • HB 8178) Effective July 1, 2026, this would allocate 20% of available proceeds in the RI highway maintenance account to RIPTA for operating expenses. This would decrease the monies needed for matching funds to obtain federal highway funds.