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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.)

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.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Bennett, Noret, Read, Hull, Shanley, Corvese, Dawson, Potter, Voas, McNamara
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/15/2026)

  3. 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:
1
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
***
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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