AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 5 co-sponsors

Requires capital improvement contracts at healthcare facilities to follow Rhode Island's Chapter 13 wage and labor standards.

04/29/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Overview

SB 2926, introduced March 4, 2026, amends Rhode Island’s Fair Employment Practices laws to address labor standards on capital improvement contracts for healthcare facilities. The measure is sponsored by Senators Murray, Thompson, DiPalma, Ciccone, Acosta, and McKenney, with several co-sponsors. As of the latest action, the committee recommended the measure be held for further study.

Primary Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to ensure labor and wage protections on capital improvement projects at healthcare facilities by tying project contracts to existing state labor standards.

Specifically, it requires that contracts for capital improvements at healthcare facilities comply with the wage and labor requirements set forth in chapter 13 of title 37.

Key Provisions

Scope of contracts: Applies to contracts for capital improvements (including construction, reconstruction, renovation, demolition, and alteration) at healthcare facilities as defined by Rhode Island law.

Labor standards linkage: Any contractor or subcontractor performing work on such healthcare facility projects must adhere to the labor requirements found in chapter 13 of title 37.

Enforcement implication: By mandating compliance with chapter 13 requirements, the bill leverages existing wage and payment regulations to ensure workers on these projects are paid in accordance with state standards.

Affected Parties

Healthcare facilities: Institutions undertaking capital improvement projects will be subject to the labor provisions when contracting for work.

Contractors and subcontractors: All firms performing work on these healthcare facility projects must comply with the wage/pay requirements of chapter 13, title 37.

Employees/workers: Workers on these capital projects benefit from adherence to established Rhode Island labor standards, including timely payment and related protections.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage (immediate applicability once signed into law).

Status: As of the latest update, the Senate Committee on Labor & Gaming recommended holding the bill for further study (April 29, 2026), indicating it did not advance to a floor vote in that session without additional consideration.

Practical Implications

The measure creates a direct compliance link between healthcare facility capital projects and Rhode Island’s labor standards, potentially increasing oversight of wage payments on these projects.

It could influence bidding and contractor selection, favoring bidders who can demonstrate compliance with chapter 13 labor requirements.

Enforcers (state labor authorities) may need to ensure ongoing compliance on active projects and address any violations through existing enforcement mechanisms in chapter 13.

Notes

No specific dollar amounts, wage rates, or penalties are detailed within the bill text itself; the reference is to the existing requirements in chapter 13 of title 37.

The bill aligns with broader public policy goals of ensuring fair labor practices on publicly or publicly-funded infrastructure projects, particularly within essential healthcare facilities.

Bill