Rhode Island Bans “Captive Audience” Meetings
At a Glance Rhode Island law bans mandatory employer-sponsored meetings on “political” matters, which includes an employer’s position on unionization. The new law creates a private right of action for aggrieved employees. On July 2, 2025, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed into law House Bill No. 5506 SUB A. With the stroke of a pen, Rhode Island joined the growing list of states to ban mandatory employer-sponsored meetings regarding religious and “political matters.” The New Law Based on its seemingly innocuous title, the new Section 28-7-50 of the Rhode Island General Laws is intended to promote and protect “[e]mployee rights of free speech in the workplace.” However, a closer reading of the new law’s definitions section reveals its true purpose: to impose a sweeping—and likely unconstitutional—ban on “captive audience” meetings. The law defines “political matters” as “topics that are unrelated to the employer’s business or business activities, such as subje...