Environment and Natural Resources

RI - Representative David A. Bennett (D)

Title:

Chair

RI - Representative Robert D. Phillips (D)

Title:

First Vice Chair

RI - Representative Lauren H. Carson (D)

Title:

Second Vice Chair

RI - Representative Jennifer Boylan (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Terri Cortvriend (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Kathleen A. Fogarty (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung (R)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Arthur Handy (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Rebecca M. Kislak (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Jason Knight (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Carol Hagan McEntee (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Michelle E. McGaw (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative June Speakman (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Patricia L. Morgan (R)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Tina L. Spears (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Representative Tina L Spears (U)

Title:

Member

RI - HB7022 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- ACT ON COASTS - COASTAL RESILIENCY (Requires the chief resilience officer (CRO) be charged with creation/maintenance/updating of the state's resiliency/recovery program along with climate change resiliency plan with ocean/riverine coasts resilience advisory board.)

RI - HB7023 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING (Reduces equitable relationships between packaging producers and local governments and communities by establishing the Package Reduction and Recycling Program.)

RI - SB2090 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- REAL ESTATE SALES DISCLOSURES (Requires radon testing within one year of any residential real estate transaction and the installation of a radon mitigation system if unsafe radon levels are present, at the seller's expense.)

RI - HB7215 AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS (Mandates that food service establishments only provide single-use foodware accessories and standard condiments to a customer upon request.)

RI - SB2184 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT (Adopts model legislation facilitating the interstate practice of regulated social workers.)

RI - HB7293 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- OLD GROWTH FOREST PROTECTION ACT (Creates a statutory framework designed to protect our forests and biodiversity, also prohibits logging in old growth forests and in the natural area preserves when they are created.)

RI - HB7294 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FIELD TRIALS AND SHOOTING PRESERVES -- CAPTIVE HUNTING PROHIBITED (Prohibits captive hunting for domestic or wild animals and does not prohibit the release of upland game birds for hunting on licensed shooting preserves.)

RI - HB7295 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN AIR PRESERVATION ACT (Establishes regulations to prohibit stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), solar radiation modification (SRM) experimentation, and other hazardous weather engineering activities.)

RI - HB7296 AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ROADS (Authorizes and empowers the department of transportation to plant pollinator-friendly species of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants.)

RI - HB7356 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMPREHENSIVE PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024 (Enacts the Comprehensive PFAS Ban Act of 2024, prohibiting the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances of PFAS in products offered for sale or manufactured in the state as of January 1, 2027.)

RI - HB7357 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HIGH HEAT WASTE FACILITY ACT (Provides for a prohibition on the licensing of any new high-heat waste facility.)

RI - HB7358 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- DEER HUNTING (Modifies reporting requirements regarding collisions between vehicles and wildlife where the vehicle has been substantially damaged.)

RI - HB7359 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL (Prohibits the application of lawn care pesticides on the grounds of any public or private pre-school or public or private school with students in grade twelve (12) or lower, except in an emergency situation.)

RI - HR7360 HOUSE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY CORPORATION (RIRRC) TO CONDUCT A RECYCLING/WASTE AUDIT ON THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A WASTE REDUCTION STRATEGY

RI - HR7361 HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REMEDIES TO THE EROSION OF RHODE ISLAND BEACHES (Creates a 9 member commission to study and provide recommendations for remedies to the erosion of RI beaches, and would report back by January 5, 2025 and expire on March 5, 2025.)

RI - HB7439 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- PFAS IN DRINKING WATER, GROUNDWATER, AND SURFACE WATER (Delays from June 1, 2024, until June 1, 2025, the necessity to conduct monitoring for the maximum number PFAS in drinking water and would amend the type of water systems to which the requirement applies.)

RI - HB7440 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LOBSTERS AND OTHER CRUSTACEANS (Amends the current law to allow for the harvesting of blue crabs during the hours of darkness.)

RI - HB7515 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MICROPLASTICS REDUCTION ACT (Prohibits a manufacturer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing into commerce any product containing synthetic polymer micro particles beginning January 1, 2028.)

RI - HB7516 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY (Allows the department of environmental management to remove freshwater non-native and invasive aquatic plants and assist municipalities in preventing the growth and spread of these and other invasive species in the freshwater lakes and ponds.)

RI - HB7562 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- FURBEARING ANIMALS (Deletes subsection (b) of this section which lists the furbearing mammals in the state and requires DEM to promulgate by rule, a list of "furbearers" for this chapter.)

RI - HB7563 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- ORGANIC FARMING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (Establishes the organic farming and certification program to be administered by the department of environmental management.)

RI - HB7612 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (Requires school districts to provide the parent/guardian of a student with an individualized education program (IEP) with information concerning the achieving a better life experience (ABLE) account program benefits and the program application process.)

RI - HB7616 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RENEWABLE READY PROGRAM (Establishes the renewable ready program and fund to promotes the responsible siting/development of renewable energy generating resources in locations where it would be an ancillary beneficial use to the redevelopment of previously contaminated property.)

RI - HB7617 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING DECARBONIZATION ACT OF 2024 (Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.)

RI - HB7618 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- FORESTRY AND FOREST PARITY ACT (Creates a new motor vehicle registration for "forestry vehicles" also provides that forest product operations are permitted uses within all zoning districts of a municipality except where prohibited.)

RI - HB7619 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- TOXIC PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT (Updates the existing Toxic Packaging Act by delaying the ban on PFAS in processing agents, until July 1, 2027, and also expands the law by banning PVC and polystyrene in packaging.)

RI - HB7620 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION--STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS METRICS (Requires that the division of planning create a checklist of environmental and energy issues that state construction projects which cost in excess of $10,000,000 would need to consider.)

RI - HB7728 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMPREHENSIVE FIRE SAFETY ACT (Mandates an entity that owns five hundred acres or more of land to have a forest plan with fire mitigation.)

RI - HB7729 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- AGRICULTURE FUNCTIONS OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (Provides a definition for "agricultural land" and removes the definition of "farmer" within the chapter on agricultural functions of the department of environmental management.)

RI - HB7730 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- BIRDS (Allows the taking of wild turkeys by using a crossbow in compliance with rules and regulations promulgated by DEM.)

RI - HR7731 HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND SOLUTIONS (Creates a 17 member commission to study the issues confronting the State due to climate change, and who would report back to the House by January 5, 2025, and expire on March 5, 2025.)

RI - HB7782 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN HEAT STANDARD ACT (Created the Rhode Island clean heat standards act to implement a system of tradeable clean heat credits earned from the delivery of clean heat measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.)

RI - HB7783 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL (Precludes the use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticide products which contain brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone, except in certain circumstances.)

RI - HB7784 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- AIR POLLUTION (Prohibits the department of environmental management from adopting motor vehicle emissions standards based on California's promulgated standards. It also requires any rules or regulations related to said standards be repealed.)

RI - HB7906 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS (Extends teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5) years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2024.)

RI - HB8043 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- STATE AGENCY EMISSION REPORTING (Requires executive climate change coordinating council (EC4) to develop a template to be used by all agencies of the state to track their climate emissions to uphold the pathway to Rhode Island’s act on climate legislative goals.)

RI - HB8071 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT (Does not require the remediation of occurring arsenic in the soil with direct exposure of less than or equal to twenty (20) milligrams per kilogram.)

RI - HB8093 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- FRESHWATER LAKE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Establishes the Rhode Island lake management program and a restricted receipt account as a find within the department of environmental management to aid with lake and pond management issues relating to the control of aquatic invasive plants.)

RI - SB2807 AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SHEILA C. "SKIP" NOWELL ACADEMY (Provides for changes to the operating structure of the Nowell Academy establishing a cooperative agreement among school districts.)

RI - HB8127 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT (Establishes requirements which would have to be met by an applicant prior to the issuing of permits for an activity that would have an environmental impact on or would increase the cumulative impacts on an environmental justice area.)

RI - SB2972 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES (Establishes general caseload limits for DCYF workers similar to those contained in the Council on Accreditation standards.)

RI - SB2985 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- COUNCIL ON THE ARTS (Establishes a Rhode Island creative futures fund in the amount of eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000).)

RI - SR3026 JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $2,000,000 TO THE ELISHA PROJECT (This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $2,000,000 to the Elisha Project.)

RI - HB8312 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT RECYCLING ACT (Establishes beverage container recycling to be regulated by DEM.)

RI - HR8345 JOINT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE REPORTING AND EXPIRATION DATES AND AMENDING THE PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FROM PLASTIC BOTTLE WASTE (Extends the reporting and expiration dates, and amend the commission’s purpose to include glass and aluminum products, and would report back by April 30, 2025, and expire on May 5, 2025.)

RI - HR7617 JOINT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE COORDINATING COUNCIL (EC4) TO PREPARE A REPORT ON BENCHMARKING AND BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.)