The new minimum wage is one of the new laws taking effect in Rhode Island in 2025. Other changes include a ban on selling flavored vapes. While this is currently the subject of a court challenge from the powerful grape-bubblegum lobby, a judge has denied a motion for a restraining order which would have prevented it from going into effect. WPRI has a good update on the laws.
From the ProJo:
Some of these laws were debated and passed during the legislative session that ended in June, and others years earlier with phased-in effective dates, as was true with the minimum wage law passed in 2021 that raised the rate from $11.50 to $15 an hour over four years.
And there’s good news about medical debt and LEOBOR reform.
And hooray for this one: The Senior Savings Protection Act bans companies from charging Rhode Islanders aged 65 and up an extra fee for a hard-copy bill. A violation of this provision would be a deceptive trade practice subject to a $500 fine.
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This ‘Coin’ plaque marks the site of one of the many gangways that used to service the waterfront. From the Historical Marker database:
To provide public access from South Main Street to the river for shell fishing, landing small boats and drawing water to fight fires, gangways — or alleys — were cut through private property. The first was in 1704, which divided Gideon Crawford’s lot, as opposed to today’s streets that border property. A total of 46 gangways were cut stretching from Point Street to Smith street.
I’ll bet Gideon was pissed.
The 2025 legislative session kicks off Tuesday, January 7.