Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8505: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT (Protects bullying/psychological abuse in wor
Status: Failed, May 21, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT (Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, May 1, 2026:
2026 -- H 8505 ======== LC006390 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT Introduced By: Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Sanchez, Cruz, and Potter Date Introduced: May 01, 2026 Referred To: House Labor It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT 28-61-1. Purpose. It is the purpose of this chapter to ensure the psychological safety of employees and/or the work environment without regard to protected class status by holding employers accountable for bullying conduct. 28-61-2. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: (1) "Employee" means any person who renders services to an employer, contractor, or any other entity and receives compensation for those services, including full- and part-time paid employees, temporary employees, contracted employees, and independent contractors. (2) "Employer" means a person or entity of any size who obtains services from a full- or part-time paid employee, temporary employee, contracted employee, or independent contractor and hires at least one employee for any compensation. This chapter applies to employers with a minimum of fifteen (15) employees only. (3) "Representative …
Sponsors
- John Lombardi (D, HD-008) · primary sponsor
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006)
- Enrique Sanchez (D, HD-009)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Labor
Subjects: LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS
Common questions
- What is H8505?
- H8505 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT (Protects bullying/psychological abuse in wor.
- What does H8505 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKPLACE PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY ACT (Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.)
- What is the status of H8505?
- Failed as of May 21, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (May 21, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8505?
- John Lombardi (D, HD-008), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8505?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8505.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.