| Chapter 127 |
| 2026 -- S 2342 SUBSTITUTE B Enacted 06/18/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT |
Introduced By: Senators Lawson, LaMountain, and Bissaillon |
| Date Introduced: January 30, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Title 28 of the General Laws entitled "LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS" |
| is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: |
| CHAPTER 61 |
| RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT |
| 28-61-1. Short title. |
| This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Restrictions on Self-Service Checkout |
| Stations Act”. |
| 28-61-2. Applicability. |
| This act shall apply to all grocery stores in this state that offer shoppers the use of self- |
| service checkout stations. |
| 28-61-3. Definitions. |
| As used in this chapter, the following terms and phrases are defined as follows: |
| (1) “Department” means the department of labor and training. |
| (2) “Groceries” means: |
| (i) Any raw or processed food or beverage intended for human consumption except |
| alcoholic beverages and marijuana products; and |
| (ii) Miscellaneous household maintenance items including, but not limited to, laundry |
| detergent and dishwashing soap, when sold by a retailer that also sells food and beverages. |
| (3) “Grocery store” means a business that earns the majority of its gross income from the |
| retail sale of groceries. |
| (4) “Manual checkout station” means a checkout station at which a human operator assists |
| shoppers by scanning, bagging, and accepting payment for purchases. |
| (5) “Retail clerk” means an employee whose primary responsibility is assisting shoppers |
| with scanning, bagging, and receiving payment for purchases. |
| (6) “Retail sale” means the sale of groceries to a shopper for personal use or consumption; |
| provided, such use is not for the purpose of resale. |
| (7) “Self-service checkout” means an automated process that enables shoppers to scan, bag, |
| and pay for their purchases without human assistance. |
| 28-61-4. Restrictions on self-service checkout stations. |
| (a) Grocery stores with self-service checkout stations shall have a minimum of one manual |
| checkout station in operation for every three (3) self-service checkout stations in operation; |
| provided further, there shall be a minimum of one manual checkout station in operation that is in |
| compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| (b) An employee shall be relieved of all other duties when monitoring any self-service |
| checkout station including, but not limited to, operating a manual checkout station. |
| (c) A grocery store shall be exempt from the required staffing ratio during off-peak hours. |
| "Off-peak hours" means the period before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m., local time, on any calendar |
| day. |
| (d) A grocery store shall be exempt from the required staffing ratio during a declared state |
| of emergency affecting the geographic area in which the establishment is located or when a severe |
| weather alert is in effect for the geographic area in which the establishment is located,; provided |
| that: |
| (1) Active warning. The exemption applies only during the period the severe weather alert |
| is in effect, as issued or extended by the National Weather Service or applicable state or local |
| emergency management authority; and |
| (2) Employee safety. The establishment shall not require any employee to report to work |
| or remain at work in conditions the employee reasonably believes pose an imminent threat to their |
| personal safety due to the severe weather event. |
| 28-61-5. Rulemaking authority. |
| The department shall have the primary authority to promulgate rules, regulations, and |
| penalties to enforce the provisions of this chapter. |
| 28-61-6. Violations. |
| (a) A first violation of the provisions of this chapter shall result in a written warning and |
| no other penalty shall be imposed for such first violation. |
| (b) Fines for multiple violations made by the same grocery store at the same location shall |
| be equal to wages for one four-(4)hour (4) shift based on the highest wage for hourly retail clerks |
| for each day on which there is a violation; provided that, fines shall not exceed five hundred dollars |
| ($500) per day. |
| (c) Any employee may file a complaint with the department alleging a violation of this |
| chapter, free from fear of retaliation. Any employee of a grocery store who alleges retaliation by |
| their employer for submitting a complaint alleging violation(s) of this chapter may bring a cause of |
| action in superior court. |
| (d) If a grocery store does not comply with the provisions of this chapter after thirty (30) |
| days of receiving notice of a violation of this chapter, such non-compliance shall be considered an |
| unlawful act punishable in accordance with §§ 6-13.1-2 and 6-13.1-5. |
| (e) A consumer who alleges a violation of this chapter may file a complaint with the |
| department. Retaliation against a consumer who files a complaint alleging violation of this chapter |
| shall constitute an unlawful act punishable in accordance with §§ 6-13.1-2 and 6-13.1-5. |
| 28-61-7. Severability. |
| If any part, section, or provision of this chapter is found unconstitutional, illegal, or invalid, |
| such a finding will affect only that part, section, or provision of this chapter and the remaining |
| parts, sections, or provisions shall remain in full force and effect. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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| LC004473/SUB B |
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