Rhode Island

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.

Custom text Title Organization
Feb
2
2019
Attorneys General Petition EPA To Issue Asbestos Reporting Rule Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Jan
18
2019
Employers Take Note: Minimum Wages Increase in States Across the Country Polsinelli PC
Jan
16
2019
The Buzz About Block Grants Mintz
Dec
21
2018
Bard Hernia Mesh Litigation Update Stark & Stark
Oct
9
2018
The Trend Continues: Court Denies Pro Se Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand TCPA Case Based on Lack of Article III Standing Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Aug
9
2018
Back To School: Are Your Employees Entitled To Leave? Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Jul
24
2018
Brown University Only Partially Successful in 403(b) Lawsuit McDermott Will & Emery
Jul
5
2018
Non-Compete Laws Affecting Health Care Professionals in Various U.S. Jurisdictions Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Jun
25
2018
Nine States To Collaborate To Release A New Action Plan To Accelerate The Adoption Of Electric Vehicles K&L Gates
May
24
2018
Major Offshore Wind Projects Advance in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Beveridge & Diamond PC
May
17
2018
A Tale of Two Judges: Lack of Binding Precedent on Arbitration Agreements Causes Uncertainty for Rhode Island Employers Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
5
2018
OR, NY, AL, and RI considering data breach legislation post-Equifax Ballard Spahr LLP
Mar
2
2018
Oregon, New York, Alabama, and Rhode Island Join List of States Considering Data Breach Legislation Post-Equifax Ballard Spahr LLP
Feb
12
2018
Telecom Alert – Kari's Law; Annual CPNI Certifications Due; Annual 911 Report; AIRWAVES Act; Congress Agrees on Budget; False Tsunami Alert; CAF II Auction Webinar - Vol. XV, Issue 7 Keller and Heckman LLP
Feb
7
2018
The Bubbler – February 2018 Mintz
Jan
4
2018
New Year, New Minimum Wage Hikes Polsinelli PC
Dec
26
2017
Many State and Local Minimum Wage Increases Will Go Into Effect on January 1, 2018 Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Dec
20
2017
Roundup of Minimum Wage Increases for 2018 Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dec
13
2017
Days Of Our [Employment] Lives (Part One): Sick Leave Spreads From Coast to Coast In Time For Flu Season Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
Sep
22
2017
Rhode Island Employees May Soon Be Entitled to Paid Sick Time Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Sep
21
2017
Rhode Island General Assembly Passes Paid Sick Leave Law Proskauer Rose LLP
Sep
14
2017
Lawsuits Over Rescission of DACA Jackson Lewis P.C.
Aug
2
2017
Massachusetts and Rhode Island Courts Agree – and Disagree – on the Rights of Medical Marijuana Patients in the Employment Context Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Jul
28
2017
USDA Awards $4.6 Million in Nanotechnology Research Grants Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Jul
26
2017
The Law of Lis Pendens in Massachusetts and Rhode Island Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Jul
11
2017
Rhode Island Court Gives Assignability of Employee Non-Competes a Haircut Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jun
20
2017
Positive No More: Rhode Island Employers Need to Think Twice Before Denying Employment Based on a Positive Drug Test Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jun
7
2017
Growing Questions About Employee Medical Marijuana Use Leave Employers in a Haze Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
May
25
2017
Employer’s Refusal to Hire Medical Marijuana User Violates State Law, Rhode Island State Court Holds Jackson Lewis P.C.
May
1
2017
Rhode Island District Court Dismisses Allegations That Stable Value Fund is Too Conservative Proskauer Rose LLP
Mar
14
2017
State Attorneys General March 14 Update Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Sep
16
2016
U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Readies for Take-off Led by Northeast U.S. Mintz
Sep
15
2016
Choice of Law Ruling in Massachusetts Diminishes Coverage for Rhode Island Public Utility Murtha Cullina
Sep
2
2016
Summer Round-Up: Four States Bolster Data Breach Notification Laws and More Changes on the Way Mintz
Aug
9
2016
Connecticut and Rhode Island Enact Statutes Restricting Physician Non-Competes Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Aug
5
2016
August 2016 Tax Credits & Incentives Update Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered
Jul
19
2016
Rhode Island’s New Law Requires Health Plans Cover Telemedicine Services Foley & Lardner LLP
Apr
15
2016
Three-Year Statute of Limitations Applies To Violations of Rhode Island Drug Testing Law Jackson Lewis P.C.
Feb
28
2016
Rhode Island Legal Malpractice Decision Offers Guidance to Trust and Estate Attorneys Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Feb
5
2016
Rhode Island AG says Fantasy Sports is Legal but Should Be Regulated Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Jan
18
2016
New Year Rings in with More Minimum Wage Increases Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Nov
4
2015
October 2015 Tax Credits and Incentives Update Horwood Marcus & Berk Chartered
Sep
17
2015
Legislative Roundup on Energy from the New England States Mintz
Aug
31
2015
Rhode Island Employers Must Accommodate Workers with Pregnancy-Related Condition Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jul
24
2015
Claiming Tipper Received No Benefit, Defendant Invokes Newman in Seeking to Dismiss Insider Trading Allegations Katten
Jul
21
2015
With No Federal Law in Sight, States Continue to Refine Their Own Data Privacy Laws McDermott Will & Emery
Apr
19
2015
Hospital Cannot Show Nurses’ Overtime Refusal Would Cause Irreparable Harm, Court Rules No TRO Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jan
15
2015
In with the New: 2015 Privacy, Advertising and Digital Media Predictions – Part III McDermott Will & Emery
Jan
13
2015
State Minimum Wage Increases Effective 2015 Jackson Lewis P.C.
Dec
18
2014
Federal Spending Bill Creates Controversy Over Federal Government’s Position on Medical Marijuana Jackson Lewis P.C.
 

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