Get Started

Rhode Island EPLI: Four-person threshold, one-year charge window

Rhode Island’s Fair Employment Practices Act generally defines employer to include the state and any person employing four or more individuals. It excludes specified family and domestic-service relationships and preserves a limited religious-employer exception. A charge to the state commission generally must concern conduct within one year. 1,2

What Is Employment Practices Liability?

EPLI can help pay covered defense costs and losses when applicants or workers allege discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination or other workplace wrongdoing. If you employ people, check the claim definition, defense costs and prior acts. Read the national Employment practices liability guide.

Rhode Island Requirements

RequirementDetails
Employer thresholdThe state and political subdivisions, and a person in Rhode Island employing four or more individuals; the definition also includes agents acting in an employer’s interest. 1

What to Watch for in Rhode Island

  • Family and domestic-service exclusions matter

    The chapter says employee excludes a person employed by a parent, spouse, or child, or in domestic service. The commission’s intake form asks whether the filer was or is an employee of a Rhode Island company or seeking work in the state. Businesses using household or family labor should have counsel assess whether the statute applies. 1,3

  • A religious-employer exception is role-specific

    The employer definition does not apply to a religious corporation, association, educational institution, or society with respect to employing individuals of its religion for work connected with its activities. Ask counsel to assess the entity, worker’s religious affiliation, and work before relying on the exception. 1

  • Commission charges have a one-year period

    Section 28-5-17 allows the commission to initiate a preliminary investigation when the adverse practice occurred, ended, or affected the person within one year, whichever is later. The commission intake asks whether the employment act occurred less than one year ago and says uncertain applicants may still call. Preserve dates and ask how an initial intake or charge must be reported. 2,3

Who Regulates Insurance in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. 4,5,6

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located. 7,8

Providers With Documented State Licenses

These providers publish a national listing for Employment practices liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Rhode Island. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • CoalitionCoalition Insurance Solutions, Inc.Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Coalition’s license page lists producer and surplus-lines licenses for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc. in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The page separately lists insurers; this record covers the brokerage entity only. 10
  • CorgiCorgi Insurance Services, Inc.Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11
  • VouchVouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLCInsurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. 14

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Rhode Island

  1. Do the covered Rhode Island entity and employee counts match the policy application?
  2. Is any worker a family or domestic-service employee excluded by the statutory definition?
  3. Does the matter involve a religious employer and a role within the statutory exception?
  4. Does the policy define a commission charge or retaliation allegation as a claim before court?

Employment Practices Liability in Rhode Island: FAQ

What is the general Rhode Island employer threshold? 1

The statute includes the state and political subdivisions and any person in Rhode Island employing four or more individuals, along with persons acting in the employer’s interest. Other definitions and exceptions still matter. 1

What time period does Rhode Island use for a commission charge? 2,3

Section 28-5-17 describes a charge affecting the aggrieved person within one year, measured from when the practice occurred, ended, or affected the person, whichever is later. The Commission’s intake page uses a less-than-one-year screening question but invites people who are unsure to call. 2,3

Employment Practices Liability in Other States

Other Coverage in Rhode Island

Sources

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws §28-5-6, Definitions. Rhode Island General Assembly; §28-5-6(8)–(9), employee/employer definitions and religious-employer qualification. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws §28-5-17, Conciliation of charges. Rhode Island General Assembly; §28-5-17(a), qualifying employment practice within one year for commission investigation. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  3. Intake Questionnaire. Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights; Employment intake questions, less-than-one-year screen and guidance for uncertain filers; retaliation scope §§70–76. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  4. rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  5. DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  6. DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  7. 2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  8. Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  9. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  10. Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
  11. Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  13. Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  14. Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

Get Help With Insurance Buying and Renewals.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot