11 New Rhode Island Laws That Will Change Your Life In 2024

RHODE ISLAND — With 2024 less than two weeks away, it's time to look at a few new laws that are going into place in Rhode Island next year.

Here are some of Rhode Island's new laws going into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and how they may impact your life:

Minimum Wage Increases

Effective Jan. 1, Rhode Island's minimum wage will increase from $12.25 to $14 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour at the beginning of 2025.

Also read: Jan. 1 Minimum Wage Hike To Give RI Workers A Raise.

Plastic Bag Ban

The ban on single-use plastic bags, signed by Gov. Dan McKee in 2022, will go into effect at the start of the new year.

Under the new law, retail establishments are prohibited from making available any single-use plastic checkout bag or any paper checkout bag that is not a recyclable paper bag. Carryout bags at restaurants must also be made of paper.

No More Fluorescent Light Bulbs

The sale of fluorescent light bulbs will be phased out in the Ocean State, beginning Jan. 1. The phase out was because of mercury in the light bulbs.

Fluorescent light bulbs were originally introduced as an energy-efficient step up from incandescent light bulbs. They will be replaced on the market by LEDs, which are significantly more efficient, much longer lasting, widely available, cost less to own and operate and do not contain mercury.

Younger Voters in Primaries

Seventeen-year-old Rhode Island residents will be able to vote in primary elections as long as they are registered to vote and will turn 18 before the general election.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore, a Democrat, originally introduced the legislation in 2019, when he was a state representative. Amore said he supported allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries, because of his experiences as a high school teacher, where he witnessed engagement and political knowledge in high school students.

A New State Holiday

On June 19, McKee signed legislation making Juneteenth an official state holiday, beginning in 2024. Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19 every year in commemoration of the date in 1865 when word reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended, and they were free.

New Landlord/Tenant Laws

Effective June 1, landlords, rental agencies, and property managers can no longer charge application fees, with some exceptions.

Those exceptions include the cost of a credit check or a criminal background check unless the applicant provides one from within the last 90 days. If a rental applicant is required to pay for a credit or criminal report, the landlord is required to proved them with a copy of it.

Another new law increased the amount of money tenants can deduct from their monthly rent payment for repairs. The amount increased from $125 to $500.

New Health Care Laws

1. Nurse with licenses in more than one state will be allowed to practice in Rhode Island without having to get a Rhode Island-only license.
2. Insurers will be required to cover pre-exposure and post-exposure medications to prevent HIV infection.
3. Health insurers will be required to cover screenings deemed medically necessary who those with dense breast tissue.

State ID Cards For Undocumented Immigrants

Undocumented immigrants will be able to be issued a state identification card from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, as long as they provide certain documentation. Required documents include a tax verification letter, two types of identification, and two documents verifying residency.

New Parking Lot Rules

New parking lots and any existing lots that get expanded by at least 50 percent must provide new spaces and charging stations for electric vehicles.

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