The bill amends Section 25-3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 25-3, entitled "Work on Holidays and Sundays," to redefine certain terms and include additional holidays. The definition of "holidays" is expanded to include Washington's Birthday, as defined in § 25-1-1, alongside other holidays such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Freedom Day, July 4th, Victory Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Additionally, for state and municipal government offices, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday is also recognized as a holiday. The bill also provides detailed definitions for terms such as "director," "economic necessity," "employee," and "employer," with specific inclusions and exclusions for each category.

The bill outlines various circumstances under which economic necessity is determined, including requirements for continuous production to avoid loss, continuous operation of data processing equipment, competitive industry practices, practical maintenance schedules, energy supply interruptions, shortages of materials, and other circumstances beyond control that would cause undue economic hardship. It also specifies categories of workers who are excluded from the definition of "employee," such as those in agriculture, maritime trades, professional fields, health care, hospitality, offshore petroleum or gas industries, supervisory roles, and certain telephonic customer service operations. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
2701: 25-3-1