Breastfeeding Laws

Breastfeeding in Public

  • A woman may breastfeed or bottle feed her child in any place open to the public. R.I. General Laws Section 23-13.5-1 (2008)
  • Women breastfeeding in public are protected from disorderly conduct laws. R.I. General Laws Section 11-45-2 (1998)

Breastfeeding in the Workplace

  • _The United States Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires nationwide
    workplace lactation accommodations    . (2010)
  • Employers should provide a breastfeeding mother with flexible breaks and a safe, clean, private place to pump breastmilk or breastfeed her child. R.I. General Laws Section 23-13.2-1 (2003)
Report suspected employer violations of workplace laws to the United States Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division Providence Area Office at (401) 528-4431.
Summaries of all federal and state breastfeeding laws are posted on the National Conference
of State Legislatures’ website.