Rhode Island Bill Makes Construction Contractors Civilly Liable for Subcontractor Wage Theft

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES (Makes construction contractors civilly liable and/or jointly civilly liable for any claims of wage theft or nonpayment from an employee against the contractor, its subcontractors and any subcontractor.)

Last action · March 18, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: David Bennett and 9 others

Companion · S 2932same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Construction contractors in Rhode Island are made civilly and for or nonpayment claims brought by employees against the contractor, its subcontractors, and any lower-tier subcontractors.

Why it matters

Workers can seek unpaid wages directly from prime contractors on a construction project if a subcontractor fails to pay, shifting the financial recourse channel for wage disputes.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Construction Contractors

Construction contractors face new civil and joint liability for wage theft and nonpayment claims originating from employees of their subcontractors.

Directly affected

Construction Workers

Construction workers gain an additional legal avenue to recover unpaid wages or address wage theft by holding primary contractors responsible alongside subcontractors.

Key Facts

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be held liable for unpaid wages under this bill?

Construction contractors can be held civilly and for or nonpayment claims made by employees against the contractor, its subcontractors, or any subcontractor.

What kind of claims are covered by this legislation?

Claims regarding or nonpayment of wages owed to an employee working within the construction contractor and subcontractor framework.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Mar 18, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Mar 13, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2026)
Feb 27, 2026Introduced
Introduced, referred to House Labor

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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