The bill amends Section 28-12-4.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-12, titled "Minimum Wages," to update the exemptions for employees regarding overtime pay. It introduces new legal language that specifies various categories of employees who are exempt from minimum wage provisions, including summer camp employees, police officers, and certain state employees who can opt for compensatory time off. Notably, the bill removes the previous exemptions for salaried employees in executive, administrative, or professional capacities, replacing them with a tiered system that establishes salary thresholds based on the number of employees in a business and the minimum wage.

Under the new provisions, starting from January 1, 2026, small employers (with 50 or fewer employees) must pay overtime to salaried employees if their salary is less than one and one-half times the minimum wage, while large employers (with more than 50 employees) must pay overtime if the salary is less than two times the minimum wage. This change aims to expand overtime eligibility for more employees, thereby increasing protections for workers. The act will take effect upon passage.