Provides for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ and duration of the leave is dependent on the type of donation and notice should be provided to the employer at least thirty (30) days prior to the leave.

## Rhode Island Organ Donation Leave Act – Plain English Summary

This bill would create a new type of paid leave specifically for Rhode Island state government employees who choose to donate an organ. Under this proposal, state workers who go through the process of donating an organ would be able to take paid time off to recover, rather than having to use their existing sick or vacation days. The amount of paid leave a worker receives would depend on the type of organ donation they make, recognizing that different procedures require different recovery times.

To use this benefit, an employee would need to give their employer at least 30 days' advance notice before taking the leave, whenever possible. This advance notice requirement helps state agencies plan for the employee's absence and arrange coverage for their responsibilities while they are away recovering.

This bill directly affects Rhode Island state government employees — meaning people who work for state agencies, departments, and offices. It does not appear to apply to private sector workers or local government employees. For eligible workers, the practical impact is that they would not have to choose between donating a life-saving organ and protecting their paycheck or depleting their earned leave time.

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Finance Committee, which will review the potential costs to the state before it can move forward in the legislative process. A hearing has been scheduled for April 2026.