Legislation enacted during Rice's tenure included a child labor law mandating a minimum age of fourteen for factory work. He generally supported legislation improving social conditions, but was unsuccessful in enacting a proposed reorganization of the state's major charities. He also let stand the state's "local option" alcohol law, for which he was criticized by temperance activists. He also chaired a committee formed in 1876 to oversee the rescue from demolition of the historic Old South Meeting House. As a result of the committee's work, ownership of the building was passed to a nonprofit dedicated to its preservation.