Amends the definition of public works so that it would include any public works projects performed for any city or town or quasi-municipal entity and the state and any quasi-state entity.

## Plain-English Summary

This bill would expand the legal definition of "public works" in Rhode Island to include construction and infrastructure projects done for a broader range of government entities. Currently, the definition may not clearly cover certain quasi-municipal or quasi-state entities — organizations that operate somewhat like government agencies but aren't traditional city, town, or state bodies. This bill would make clear that projects performed for these types of entities count as "public works" under state law.

The practical impact of this change relates to labor and payment protections that apply specifically to public works projects. When a project qualifies as "public works," contractors and workers are generally subject to rules about things like prevailing wages (minimum pay rates set by the government) and requirements that contractors pay their debts and workers properly. By broadening the definition, more projects — and therefore more workers and contractors — would fall under these existing protections and requirements.

This bill would most directly affect construction workers, contractors, and subcontractors who work on government-related projects, as well as the various quasi-governmental organizations in Rhode Island (such as housing authorities, development corporations, or similar entities). Workers on projects for these organizations could gain access to the same labor protections that already apply to traditional state and municipal projects.

The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the House Labor Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study. A hearing is scheduled for March 2026, meaning lawmakers are still in the early stages of reviewing and debating the proposal.