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5/7/2026
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Senate passes Acosta’s worker cooperative bill
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Jonathon Acosta that supports and protects worker cooperatives.
“With the lack of availability of skilled labor becoming a problem for many Rhode Island residents, this bill will significantly add to the state’s skilled labor pool while also granting these skilled laborers with the support and protections that worker cooperatives provide to their members. This bill is a win for our state’s skilled laborers as well as their customers,” said Senator Acosta (D-Dist. 16, Central Falls, Pawtucket).
The bill (2026-S 2318) would clarify the role of a workers’ cooperative to allow it to operate as a hiring hall under certain circumstances. It would allow workers’ cooperatives, through their articles of incorporation or bylaws, to indicate their intent of supplying contract labor for other entities. Any individual performing said labor would be considered an independent contractor providing skilled labor through the workers’ cooperative corporation.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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