# Rhode Island H8504: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES . Rhode Island H8504, AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Leonela Felix (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 066) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8504-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H8504 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-05-01 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor — Chapter 066 - Sponsor: Leonela Felix (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 7 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (60 yes, 9 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More small and household employers covered: benefit, medium. The law covers any employer with four or more employees. State and local governments count as employers too. People who work in domestic service are now protected by this law. Households that hire domestic workers must follow these employment protections. The exception for people employed by a pare… - Stronger protections for pregnancy, hair, gender, age: benefit, medium. Sex discrimination includes pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. Employers must give the same pay, leave, benefits, and job terms as they give others with similar limits at work. Race protections now cover hair texture and protective hairstyles like locks, braids, twists, and Afros. The l… - Disability accommodation terms now consistent: benefit, low. The law uses the same meanings for auxiliary aids and services, reasonable accommodation, and undue hardship as in state disability law. Employers and agencies must apply these uniform standards when handling disability accommodations. This makes the process clearer for workers with disabilities. - Limited hiring preference for religious groups: cost, low. Religious corporations, associations, schools, or societies may hire people of their own religion for work tied to carrying on their activities. This preference is limited to those roles and to applicants of that religion. - New rules for convictions and gag clauses: mixed, low. The law defines a conviction as a guilty verdict or a guilty or nolo contendere plea. Employers must use this meaning when they review criminal history for jobs. The law also defines non-disparagement agreements as contracts that limit speaking badly about the other party. This helps workers spot g… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Leonela Felix (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Karen Alzate (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cherie L. Cruz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Grace Diaz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: John J. Lombardi (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: David Morales (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer A. Stewart (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Teresa A. Tanzi (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-03 | House | FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES PASSAGE | pass | 60 | 9 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor — Chapter 066 (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-03: House read and passed (House) - 2026-05-29: Placed on House Calendar (06/03/2026) (House) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-05-01: Introduced, referred to House Labor (House) ## Bill text - H8504 - As Introduced, 2026-05-01: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8504.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8504.pdf) ## Related bills - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8504 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8504.htm) - [H8504 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8504.pdf) ## Related - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8504-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).