The Nursing Home Staffing & Quality Care Act raises the bar on nursing home care, making Rhode Island a national leader for nursing home staffing standards. The act will establish a minimum standard of 3.58 hours of resident care per day by Jan. 1, 2022, and 3.81 hours of resident care per day beginning Jan. 1, 2023. The bill also provides funding to raise wages for direct care staff to help recruit and retain a stable and qualified workforce and keep that workforce safe.

The Fair Housing Practices Act (Source Of Income Bill) prohibits discrimination on the basis of a renter's or homebuyer's source of income. The bill is primarily aimed at preventing landlords from refusing to rent to Rhode Islanders who receive Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers, although it also prevents discrimination based on any source of income, such as Social Security, veteran’s benefits, disability, or child support.

The Fair Pay Act will provide protections and transparency in the workplace to help women and people of color demand equal pay for equal work. The act defines the term, "comparable work," and makes it illegal to pay workers less than other colleagues without a clearly documented difference in skills. Additionally, the act prohibits policies that ban workers from discussing their wages, promoting wage transparency, as well as the use of wage history by employers to determine an employee's salary.

The RI Works Benefit increased this year for the first time in thirty years. The cash benefit of the program increased by 30% from it's original $6 per day allowance. Additionally, the $100 yearly clothing allowance is now eligible for toddlers and infants where prior only children were eligible.

The Rhode Island Minimum Wage Bill set in motion an increase hourly rate of $11.50 to $15 over the course of four years. Although we understand that $15/hour is not nearly enough, we must celebrate this victory that will help many people struggling to meet basic needs.

The RI Doula Reimbursement Act ensures that doula care is covered by insurance, increasing access for families and providing a better pathway to a fair wage for doulas.