This bill, titled "Grocery Stores," aims to amend Title 6 of the General Laws by adding a new chapter. The bill begins by stating the findings of the General Assembly, which include the importance of grocery stores as social connections for many people, the negative impact of self-service checkouts on social isolation and health, and the increased risk of shoplifting and personal information theft. The bill also highlights the negative impact of self-service checkouts on retail workers, particularly those in part-time positions, and the disproportionate impact on people of color.

The bill then provides definitions for terms used in the chapter, including "grocery store," "groceries," "manual checkout station," "retail sale," and "self-service checkout." The bill imposes restrictions on the number of self-service checkout stations allowed in grocery stores, stating that there should not be more than eight operating at any one time per location. It also requires grocery stores with self-checkout stations to have a minimum of one manual checkout station per self-service station.

Additionally, the bill requires grocery stores to provide a 10% discount to consumers for self-service checkouts involving ten or more items. The bill grants the consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general primary authority to enforce the restrictions and allows Rhode Island residents to file complaints alleging violations. The bill also includes provisions for penalties and fines for violations, as well as protections against retaliation for employees and consumers who file complaints. The bill includes a severability clause, stating that if any part of the chapter is found unconstitutional, the remaining parts will still be in effect. The bill would take effect upon passage.