H7041 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION (Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.)

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Bennett, Noret, Read, Hull, Shanley, Corvese, Dawson, Potter, Voas, McNamara
Last action: 2026-06-18
Official status: Signed by Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION (Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION (Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-06-18 Governor
Signed by Governor
2026-06-16 Governor
Transmitted to Governor
2026-06-09 Senate
Senate passed in concurrence
2026-06-05 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on Senate Calendar (06/09/2026)
2026-06-03 House
House read and passed
2026-05-29 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on House Calendar (06/03/2026)
2026-05-28 Committee
Committee recommends passage
2026-05-22 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)
2026-04-15 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/15/2026)
2026-01-09 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Labor

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION (Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7041

2026 -- H 7041
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LC003174
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION

Introduced By:
Representatives Bennett, Noret, Read, Hull, Shanley, Corvese, Dawson,
Potter, Voas, and McNamara

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
House Labor
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 28-9.1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.1 entitled
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"Firefighters’ Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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28-9.1-17. Continuance of contractual provisions.
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All contractual provisions contained in a collective bargaining agreement entered into
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pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall continue
in the following collective bargaining
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agreement unless either the bargaining agent or the corporate authority shall, in writing, within the
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thirty-day (30) period referred to in § 28-9.1-7, propose a change in any contractual provision. The
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parties may agree in writing to continue all contractual provisions contained in a collective
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bargaining agreement until such time as the parties enter into, and have ratified or arbitrated, a
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successor agreement

until such time as a successor agreement has been reached between the parties
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or an interest arbitration award has been rendered
.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003174
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- FIREFIGHTERS' ARBITRATION
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1
This act would provide that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining
2
agreement would continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration
3
award has been rendered.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003174
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