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H 8311RHODE ISLANDSession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Rhode Island Bill Requires Employers to Protect Workers From Extreme Temperatures

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (Requires employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandates quarterly supervisor training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks.)

Last action · March 30, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsor: Matthew Dawson

Companion · S 2320same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

Employers in Rhode Island would be required to protect employees from extreme heat and cold through mandated rest breaks, personal protective equipment, safety equipment, and training. The measure also mandates quarterly supervisor training to recognize and mitigate temperature-related risks.

Why it matters

Workplaces across the state would face new operational compliance requirements regarding temperature safety, affecting daily working conditions and supervisory duties.

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

Employees

Workers receive mandated protections including rest breaks, PPE, and training against extreme temperatures.

Directly affected

Employers

Employers must comply with new rules requiring temperature protections, equipment, and quarterly supervisor training.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What specific protections are employers required to provide?

Employers must provide rest breaks, personal protective equipment, necessary equipment, and employee training, along with quarterly supervisor training for extreme temperature risks.

Who is covered by these temperature protection requirements?

Employees subject to extreme temperatures in their workplaces within the state.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

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

Procedural history

3 actions

Mar 30, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Mar 26, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/30/2026)
Mar 18, 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.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Division of Occupational Health

OrganizationDivision of Occupational Health“Division mentioned in the act relating to health and safety”Map →

Sources

Open source document

status.rilegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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