Environment and Agriculture

RI - Senator V. Susan Sosnowski (D)

Title:

Chair

RI - Senator Robert Britto (D)

Title:

Vice Chair

RI - Senator Lammis J. Vargas (D)

Title:

Secretary

RI - Senator Alana M. DiMario (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Victoria Gu (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Meghan E. Kallman (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Gordon E. Rogers (R)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Lori Urso (D)

Title:

Member

RI - SR23 SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POTENTIAL CHANGES IN LEGISLATION/OVERSIGHT OF THE ACT ON CLIMATE (Creates a 5 member commission to provide recommendations for legislation changes and/or oversight for the Act on Climate, and would report back by May 1, 2026, and would expire on June 1, 2026.)

RI - SB24 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 - SB25 AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS (Prohibits a person to sell, offer for sale, display for sale or otherwise distribute a farmed animal fur product within the state and provides graduated civil penalties for violations.)

RI - SB87 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- COMMERCIAL FISHERIES (Creates commercial dock space for businesses subject to being reviewed by the DEM. Would also include commercial fishers to be eligible for a grant program.)

RI - SB88 AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PERMIT (Requires as part of the solar permit application an assessment on carbon-neutral, a solar permit would only be approved if it was carbon neutral based on the assessment.)

RI - SB89 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Incorporates ethical energy standards to the 2021 Act on Climate.)

RI - SB90 AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- MILK SANITATION CODE (Permits and legalize the sale of raw milk.)

RI - SB91 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING DECARBONIZATION ACT OF 2024 (Establishes the environmental justice advisory board (EJAB) to implement standards for buildings that emit greenhouse gases.)

RI - SB180 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (Prohibits the declawing of cats by any surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. Does not apply to any procedure performed for a therapeutic purpose.)

RI - SB181 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (This act would require that a super majority of three-fifths (3/5) of the duly appointed council is required to override a recommendation by the CRMC staff.)

RI - SB241 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSUMER PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024 (Prohibits a manufacturer from manufacturing, knowingly selling, offering for sale, distributing for sale or distributing for use in the state any firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally-added PFAS as of January 1, 2027.)

RI - SB324 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY (Creates a public education program on methods to recycle textiles.)

RI - SB325 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL CARE (Amends the definition of “hobby breeder” to limit the sale or offering for sale to no more than two (2) litters of dogs or cats, or a combination thereof, in a three hundred and sixty-five (365) day period.)

RI - SB326 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT OF 2025 (Establishes the Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act cost recovery program.)

RI - SR327 JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION – GREEN AMENDMENT (Proposes a constitutional amendment to Article 1 providing for a right to clean air, soil, climate, and the environment’s natural values.)

RI - SB398 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- PSITTACINE BIRDS (Bans the sale of parrots at pet stores from a breeder or broker. The pet store may sell parrots obtained from animal care facilities or animal rescue organizations. The sale would also be prohibited at any outdoor markets or retail parking lots.)

RI - SB399 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE (Requires the executive climate change coordinating council to evaluate and make recommendations for the use of carbon emissions removal technology as an alternative to reducing carbon emissions and meeting climate goals.)

RI - SB400 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Repeals the 2021 Act on Climate which established a statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate in its entirety.)

RI - SB401 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY OF MOTOR VEHICLE NON-EXHAUST PARTICLE EMISSIONS (Requires the department of transportation, in consultation with the department of environmental management also to conduct an environmental impact study of motor vehicle non-exhaust particle emissions.)

RI - SB402 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY SECURITY ACT (Makes several amendments relative to the affordable clean energy security act establishing the act's priority over chapter 6.2 of title 42 (2021 act on climate).)

RI - SB403 AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS (Prohibits force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or the hiring of another to engage in force-feeding of a poultry product. Violations would be subject to a civil penalty of $500 per violation.)

RI - SB404 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD (Requires the PUC to make public notification of any changes in eligibility or production of energy, and would direct the commission to promulgate rules and regulations to allow and facilitate the prompt public disclosure of this information.)

RI - SB405 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN AIR PRESERVATION ACT (Establishes the Rhode Island Clean Air Preservation Act that establishes a regulatory process to prohibit polluting atmospheric experimentation.)

RI - SB406 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MICROPLASTICS REDUCTION ACT (Creates the Microplastics Reduction Act to prohibit the sale or distribution of products containing synthetic polymer micro particles.)

RI - SB407 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 - SB408 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENERGY FACILITY SITING ACT (Increases the membership of the energy facility siting board from 3 to 5 members and would revise the process of energy facility siting to mandate inclusion/participation of the host community of the facility as well as of the public and cities and towns.)

RI - SB641 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES -- LEAD BY EXAMPLE ACT (Takes several measures to lead by example by banning state purchases of plastic bottles, and requires state funds to be used to lease or purchase electric vehicles and renewable energy efficient technologies for use on state property.)

RI - SB642 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- UNIFORM SEPTAGE DISPOSAL FEE (Establishes a uniform wastewater disposal fee in the amount of fifteen cents ($.15) per every ten thousand gallons of wastewater effluent.)

RI - SB643 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- SHELLFISH (Creates a shellfish hatchery program established by the department of environmental management to foster sustainable development and resiliency of the state's shellfish industry.)

RI - SB644 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT (Strikes the words "which is naturally occurring" with regard to any promulgated rules and regulations of the department of environmental management (DEM) relating to the remediation of arsenic.)

RI - SB645 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSUMER PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024 (Exempts certain products that have PFAS if deemed safe by FDA.)

RI - SB646 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL (Restricts application of pesticides and rodenticides at schools and child care centers and requires schools to provide copies of notice to parents and guardians.)

RI - SB647 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE (Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.)

RI - SB648 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE (Requires veterinarians to provide consultations to animal owners when a drug is prescribed and dispensed for that annual patient.)

RI - SB649 AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PET INSURANCE ACT (Provides for the sale and regulation of pet insurance policies and their contents and provisions.)

RI - SB650 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- WATER POLLUTION (Requires quarterly testing of biosolids for PFAS contaminants by those seeking to apply biosolids to lands, with subsequent reports to the department of environmental management.)

RI - SB651 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL (Creates rodent integrated pest management pilot programs for municipalities. That choose to participate. Reports would be approved by the municipality's mayor or administrator and would be submitted to the department of environmental management.)

RI - SB652 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL (Adds advanced recycling as a definition for refuse disposal. Adds the advanced recycling facility that means a facility that receives, stores and converts post-use polymers and recovered feedstocks using advanced recycling.)

RI - SB775 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Replaces the coastal resources management council with a state department of coastal resources and transfer all of the powers and duties between the two (2) authorities.)

RI - SB862 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENERGY FACILITY SITING ACT (Requires applications for energy facilities to take into consideration the 2021 Act on Climate and how the facility may advance or delay the greenhouse gas emissions reductions.)

RI - SB863 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (Requires the producer of artificial turf and turf infill sold or distributed in Rhode Island to report its chain of custody, from installation to use, repurposing, recycling and disposal.)

RI - SB864 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- HUNTING AND HUNTING SAFETY--WILDLIFE KILLING CONTEST (Bans wildlife killing contests on both public and private lands in the state.)

RI - SB890 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING (Changes the excess renewable net-metering credit to a wholesale rate.)

RI - SB891 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (Requires the PUC to produce report on comprehensive study by April 30, 2026.)

RI - SB938 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- LICENSING (Authorizes the taking of green crabs subject to certain conditions and a license fee of ten dollars ($10.00).)

RI - SB939 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING AND PAPER ACT (Creates the extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper program for the recycling of packaging and paper products.)

RI - SB996 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY (Provides extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, recycling of beverage containers, and provides general provisions for oversight of single-stage producer organizations.)

RI - SB997 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BEVERAGE CONTAINERS RECYCLING ACT (Establishes the Beverage Container Recycling Act)

RI - SB998 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Reforms the composition of the coastal resources management council to seven (7) members.)

RI - SB1038 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 - SB1120 AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- OLD GROWTH FOREST PROTECTION ACT (Creates the Old Growth Forest Protection Act to provide protection for state-owned forestland in their natural state prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting in any forest on state-owned land.)

RI - SB1121 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING (Allows preferred sites to be developed without being subject to the cap or rate reduction in the net metering statute.)

RI - SB1145 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (Provides that the trapping and subsequent release of any unowned feral or free roaming cat for the purpose of spaying or neutering of the cat would not be considered abandonment.)