Rhode Island Laws | National Law Review

Located in the New England Region, Rhode Island is the smallest US state by area, at approximately 1200 sq miles, and the eighth least populous state with nearly 1.1 million residents. It is the final of the original 13 Colonies and was admitted into the union on May 29, 1790. The state’s official name, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is the longest named-state in the US. Providence is both the state capital and most populous city in the state.

Rhode island contributes 4 electoral votes during Presidential elections. In terms of the state's politics, it has recently abolished capital punishment, making it the 19th state in the union to do so. The state was the 3rd in the union to legalize use of medicinal marijuana in 2011, and also passed a bill to allow for civil unions in 2011. It was also the 8th state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013. The state has one of the highest tax rates in the US, with the 7th highest property tax, and 6th highest real-estate tax rates respectively.

With a colonial base in fishing, the state’s economy heavily relies on coastal activities. Fishing, trade/embargo, and import industries are highly profitable. The state also thrives in the industries of textiles, healthcare and education, and manufacturing. Several Fortune 500 companies are based in the state including Hasboro, CVS, Citizens Financial Group, and Gtech Corporation, among others. Many prominent universities including Brown University, Johnson and Wales, New England Institute of Technology, and University of Rhode Island are present in the state.

The state government of Rhode Island is broken into three branches: the executive, judicial and legislative branch.

The legislative branch is the Rhode Island General Assembly, broken into a House of Representatives and a Senate, with 75 representatives total.
The executive branch features several elected positions, including a Governor, a Lieutenant Governor, a Secretary of State, a General Treasurer and an Attorney General. The Governor has the power to appoint a variety of officers who act as Commissioners and Directors, and even a Sheriff that has statewide jurisdiction. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected on separate tickets, with the Lieutenant Governor as largely a ceremonial position.
The judicial branch of Rhode Island has a Superior Court, a Family Court, a District Court, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Additionally, there are courts with special, limited jurisdiction like the Workers’ Compensation Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

Employment law, medical marijuana legislation, same-sex marriage, and federal and state government agency news, are among the leading stories and news-coverage provided to visitors of the National Law Review website. Visitors can also find coverage of data breach and cybersecurity legislation, minimum wage laws, paid-sick leave, disability-law protections, and other regional news from the state of Rhode Island online.

Date	Title	Organization
9 Jul	COVID-19: US State Policy Report – July 8, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
8 Jul	Petition Seeks Federal Overturn of Net Metering, Calls into Question Federal vs. State Authority Over Solar Sales	Mintz
1 Jul	COVID-19: "Where I Spent My Summer Vacation" – This Year’s Summer Reading for Employers	Pierce Atwood LLP
1 Jul	Public Policy Daily Briefing – July 1, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
26 Jun	COVID-19: US State Policy Report – June 26, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
26 Jun	Legislation COVID-19 Daily Briefing – June 26, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
22 Jun	COVID-19: US State Policy Report – June 22, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
13 Jun	COVID-19: US State Policy Report – June 12, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
12 Jun	Rhode Island Supreme Court Clarifies ‘Reasonable Grounds’ Standard for Employment-Based Drug Testing	Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
11 Jun	COVID-19: US State Policy Report – June 11, 2020	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
8 Jun	Waters of the United States Litigation: Practical Considerations for the Regulated Community	Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
2 Jun	Rhode Island High Court Upholds ‘Reasonable Grounds’ Drug Testing, Dismissal of Employee	Jackson Lewis P.C.
1 Jun	Rhode Island Court Upholds “Reasonable Grounds” Drug Testing Even Where There Is Another Possible Explanation For Employee’s Behaviors	Jackson Lewis P.C.
26 May	Rash of Fraudulent Unemployment Claims Blanketing New England	Pierce Atwood LLP
14 May	COVID-19: Quick State by State Reference Tool Regarding Reopening in New England States UPDATED July 9	Pierce Atwood LLP
6 May	COVID-19: Massachusetts Joins the Five Other New England States in Temporarily Permitting Remote Notarization	K&L Gates
27 Apr	Navigating Employer Obligations to Provide Employees with Masks, Face Coverings	Jackson Lewis P.C.
23 Apr	Un-PAUSE New York: What Empire State Employers Need to Know About Reopening the Workplace	Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
23 Apr	A Respite for Potential Liability for Face Masks	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
17 Apr	COVID-19: New England States Embrace Remote Notarization as Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont Temporarily Eliminate “in-Person” Requirements	K&L Gates
15 Apr	Cloth Face Masks Required for Rhode Island Employees Through May 18, 2020	Pierce Atwood LLP
14 Apr	Victimless Crime?: Even a State Victim Notification Provider Is Stuck in a TCPA Suit	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
10 Apr	Securing Mechanic’s Liens in Rhode Island During the COVID-19 Crisis	Pierce Atwood LLP
9 Apr	4 Steps to More Effectively Use NDAs to Protect Confidential Information	Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
7 Apr	Crossing State Lines During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Self-Quarantine Requirements	Pierce Atwood LLP
31 Mar	COVID-19: Rhode Island’s Governor Raimondo Issues Executive Order Closing All “Non-Essential” Retail Until April 13, 2020	Robinson & Cole LLP
30 Mar	COVID-19: Quick State by State Reference Tool Regarding Non-Essential Business Restrictions in New England States	Pierce Atwood LLP
30 Mar	Responding to Government Inquires Related to Price Gouging During the COVID-19 Pandemic	Robinson & Cole LLP
29 Mar	COVID-19: Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo Extends Executive Orders	Pierce Atwood LLP
29 Mar	COVID-19: Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts Financial Regulators Follow Federal Government with Temporary Emergency Relief	Pierce Atwood LLP
25 Mar	Project Suspended or Payment Delays? Don’t Lose Your Mechanic’s Lien Rights!	Pierce Atwood LLP
25 Mar	Small State, Big Ruling: D. Rhode Island Adopts Narrow ATDS Definition—Rejects “Excel Spreadsheet” Random Numbers Theory	Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
25 Mar	Rhode Island Issues Emergency Regulations on Off-Label Prescribing for COVID-19, and Guidance on Telehealth and Reciprocal Licensure	Robinson & Cole LLP
24 Mar	COVID-19 and Appellate Practice	Pierce Atwood LLP
23 Mar	Emergency Rule – Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board (CRLB)	Pierce Atwood LLP
23 Mar	Rhode Island Issues Work from Home Order “If You Can”	Pierce Atwood LLP
23 Mar	COVID-19: Summary of Rhode Island Executive Orders to Date	Pierce Atwood LLP
14 Feb	New England “Ban-the-Box” Trend: Navigating Criminal History Checks in the Hiring Process	Pierce Atwood LLP
5 Feb	The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI): Everything You Need to Know, Part II: How Will TCI Work?	Mintz
21 Jan	2019 Non-Compete Statutes Are Officially In Effect: Are Employers Ready?	K&L Gates
10 Jan	The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI): Everything You Need to Know, Part I: What Is the TCI?	Mintz
9 Jan	Bard Hernia Mesh Cases Leading the Charge to Settlements in Hernia Mesh Litigations	Stark & Stark
23 Dec	Transportation and Climate Initiative Issues Draft Cap-and-Investment MOU, Seeks Public Comment	Beveridge & Diamond PC
13 Dec	Claims against RIDOT – Important Judicial Decisions in 2019	Pierce Atwood LLP
6 Dec	Regulations Alert ! Rhode Island Contractors, Home Inspectors, & More	Pierce Atwood LLP
8 Nov	Are You in Compliance? Rhode Island and New Hampshire Restrict Noncompetition Agreements	Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
29 Oct	A Review of Recent Whistleblower Developments: October 29, 2019	Foley & Lardner LLP
29 Oct	Condominium Mechanic’s Liens	Pierce Atwood LLP
28 Oct	Lucky Seven: Rhode Island the Seventh State to Pass a Statute Governing Non-Compete Agreements During 2019	Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
23 Oct	Vape Lung Outbreak Inspires E-Cigarette Bans Across the Country	Stark & Stark