State Law Trends, “Captive Audience” Ban Clash, Rhode Island Menopause Law - #WorkforceWednesday® - Employment Law This Week®
Historically, menopause has not been specifically identified as a protected medical condition under state and federal law, even though its related symptoms in many cases are medical conditions covered by existing leave and...more
On February 6, Rhode Island introduced legislation that would significantly expand its corporate practice of medicine (CPOM) restrictions and impose new healthcare ownership transparency requirements. The proposal would...more
The Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) recently implemented a new regulation that imposes a pre-merger notification rule for certain transactions involving medical-practice groups (i.e. legal entities formed...more
On January 28, 2026, the Rhode Island Attorney General (AG) made effective the new Pre-Merger Notification Rule for Medical-Practice Groups....more
A recent Rhode Island Administrative Hearing Decision addressed whether an online database that incorporates searchable research is taxable as vendor-hosted prewritten computer software. [R.I. Div. of Tax’n, Administrative...more
As of January 28, 2026, Rhode Island "medical-practice groups" must now provide advance notice to the state Attorney General (AG) before completing certain transactions. The AG adopted the Pre-merger Notification Rule for...more
Rhode Island’s Attorney General adopted a new rule requiring notification of certain transactions resulting in material changes to a medical-practice group’s business or corporate structure....more
Republican Michael Gates, former city attorney for Huntington Beach, announced his candidacy for California AG. California AG Rob Bonta recently announced that he is running for reelection in 2026....more
Rhode Island employees will be entitled to enhanced temporary caregiver insurance benefits under changes to Rhode Island law effective January 1, 2026. The Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program, which is part of...more
In approximately three weeks’ time, the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission’s adult-use retail license application window will close at 4:00 p.m. EST on December 29th, 2025. Interested parties that have not already filed...more
The Rhode Island Supreme Court has strengthened the hand of foreclosing mortgage lenders who do not possess the original promissory note. Before the Court’s recent decision in Porch Swing Holdings, LLC v. Wayne A. Mallory,...more
In a significant development for the Rhode Island cannabis market, on November 25, 2025, the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Jensen v. Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission...more
A recent ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit could signal heightened exposure for lenders and servicers to state escrow-on-interest statutes, along with greater litigation risk. Case Background- In...more
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Rhode Island employers must provide all newly hired employees with a written notice containing key employment terms under amendments to the state’s Payment of Wages law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-12),...more
This week, we’re covering an uptick in state-level employment law activity, federal court decisions on “captive audience” bans, and Rhode Island's new menopause accommodation requirements. State Legislative Activity...more
In a landmark move, Rhode Island has become the first state in the United States to mandate workplace accommodations for employees and applicants experiencing menopause and related medical conditions. The law became effective...more
In Rhode Island, expanding health care services is not only a matter of financing and patient demand, many projects also require state approval through the Certificate of Need (“CON)” process, which has long served as a...more
The Supreme Court handed down an opinion last year regarding national bank preemption in the case Cantero v. Bank of America, which we wrote about here. In that case, which involved a Second Circuit decision regarding a New...more
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced the 2025 launch of the Renewable Energy Growth (REG) Program: Brownfield Remediation Solar Incentive, a new funding opportunity designed to accelerate...more
On September 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit vacated a district court’s dismissal of a class action lawsuit alleging a national bank failed to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts as required by Rhode...more
Rhode Island businesses and any company with Rhode Island customers are officially on the clock. The Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act (“RIDTPPA” or “the Act”) takes effect January 1, 2026, meaning...more
Rhode Island has adopted a slew of new laws concerning land use, zoning, and development. This blog is intended to provide a brief overview of certain noteworthy updates to the law that may be of interest to developers and...more
After months of anticipation, on September 12, 2025, the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission (“Commission”) opened the application window for up to 24 new adult-use cannabis retail licenses statewide, which will be...more
Rhode Island is launching a three-year experiment to rethink prior authorization in healthcare. The pilot program could reshape how patients access care and how providers manage administrative burdens, while generating...more
As companies continue to seek new ways to remain at the forefront of attracting and retaining top talent, the latest addition to the employer toolbox may well be one that has historically been overlooked when it comes to the...more