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.

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Summaries of all federal and state breastfeeding laws are posted on the National Conference
of State Legislatures’ website.