This bill significantly revises Rhode Island’s Noncompetition Agreement Act by fundamentally restricting the use of noncompete agreements. Under the proposed legislation, noncompete agreements are generally prohibited for most employees, with the key exception being agreements between a seller and buyer of a business. The bill eliminates previous exemptions based on wage levels, age, or employment classification, and instead establishes a broad prohibition on noncompete agreements for employees. However, the bill allows employers to still protect their business interests by permitting agreements that prevent employees from sharing trade secrets, customer lists, and confidential business information even after employment ends. The legislation introduces a new provision enabling employers to pursue civil actions against employees who improperly disclose or utilize trade secrets, with potential remedies including injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Importantly, any noncompete agreement that violates the bill’s provisions would be considered null and void as a matter of public policy. The bill aims to balance protecting employee mobility with safeguarding legitimate business interests, particularly focusing on preventing unnecessary restrictions on workers’ ability to seek employment while maintaining protections for sensitive business information.