Environment and Agriculture

RI - Senator Alana DiMario (U)

Title:

Chair

RI - Senator V. Susan Sosnowski (D)

Title:

Chair

RI - Senator Robert Britto (D)

Title:

Vice Chair

RI - Senator Matthew L. LaMountain (D)

Title:

Vice Chair

RI - Senator Lammis J. Vargas (D)

Title:

Secretary

RI - Senator David P. Tikoian (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 Joshua Miller (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Lori Urso (D)

Title:

Member

RI - Senator Bridget Valverde (D)

Title:

Member

RI - SB2007 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 - SB2043 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Adds climate change, sea-level rise and coastal resiliency to the analysis of data of the strategic plan for economic development policy.)

RI - SB2044 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE (Incorporates ethical energy standards to the 2021 Act on Climate.)

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 - SB2150 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT OF A COVERED ANIMAL (Exempts egg laying hens kept for commercial egg production purposes from the provisions of chapter 4-1.1 until January 1, 2034.)

RI - SB2151 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING (Modifies the definition of "core forest" to refer to unfragmented forest blocks or single or multiple parcels totaling 250 acres or greater and at least 25 yards from mapped roads.)

RI - SB2152 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 - SB2153 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 - SB2154 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 - SB2155 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 - SB2184 AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT (Adopts model legislation facilitating the interstate practice of regulated social workers.)

RI - SB2292 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE GREEN JUSTICE ZONE ACT (Establishes the first Green Justice Zone, a model that may be replicated in future years to ensure that all communities throughout the state have clean air and clean water.)

RI - SB2293 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 - SR2294 SENATE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES OF DECARBONIZING RHODE ISLAND BY 2030

RI - SB2295 AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- MILK SANITATION CODE (Permits and legalize the sale of raw milk.)

RI - SB2296 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 - SB2297 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 - SB2298 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- ACT ON COASTS - COASTAL RESILIENCY (Requires the chief resilience officer (CRO) and a resiliency office within the department of environmental management (DEM) be charged with the creation, maintenance and updating of the state's resiliency and community recovery program.)

RI - SB2299 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 - SB2300 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 - SB2301 AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS (Prohibits force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product nor hire another to engage in force feeding of a poultry product. Violations would be subject to a civil penalty of $500.)

RI - SB2302 AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRADE IN ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS ACT (Prohibits the sale/offer of sale/trade/distribution of fur products. Makes 3 violations of this chapter civil infractions punishable by civil penalty and the 4th violation a misdemeanor punishable by fine up to $500 or imprisonment for 30 days or both.)

RI - SB2303 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 - SB2304 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Requires 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 - SB2305 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.)

RI - SB2306 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC SYSTEM RELIABILITY (Requires an electric distribution company to develop and act pursuant to a vegetation management plan approved by the DPUC to carry out vegetation management activities on and around utility infrastructure along public and private rights of way.)

RI - SB2307 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- LITTER CONTROL AND RECYCLING (Changes the fine for any person convicted of a first violation of this chapter from $85 to $200, and increases the period of time that the violator may be ordered to pick up litter.)

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 - SB2534 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Requires that the appointment of public members to the coastal resources management council to include an active, licensed fisher, a representative from Save the Bay and from an organization representing developers.)

RI - SB2535 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 - SB2536 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING (Changes definitions of eligible net-metering system, excess renewable net-metering credit, renewable net-metering credit and requires customer reimbursement under certain circumstances.)

RI - SB2537 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 - SB2538 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY-- REGULATION OF VICIOUS DOGS (Permits euthanization of vicious dogs upon finding that dogs condition warrants euthanasia or after determination that there is no reasonable placement for the dog/provides any municipality that surrenders dog to RISPCA shall be responsible for costs.)

RI - SB2539 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS (Permits Smithfield to enact ordinances that would allow the animal control officer to issue citations which could be paid my mail and to prescribe penalties for violations of the town's ordinances regulating dogs.)

RI - SB2540 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 - SB2541 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 - SB2542 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 (the "2021 act on climate").)

RI - SB2543 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES -- LEAD BY EXAMPLE ACT (Bans state purchases of plastic bottles and also requires state funds to be used to lease or purchase electric vehicles and renewable energy efficient technologies for use on state property.)

RI - SB2544 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 - SB2545 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 - 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 - SB2732 AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- HUNTING AND HUNTING SAFETY -- CAPTIVE HUNTING PROHIBITED (Prohibits captive hunting for domestic or wild animals and does not prohibit the release of domestic game birds for hunting on licensed shooting preserves.)

RI - SB2744 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS (Increases the penalty for violations of the care of dogs statute to a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100) and a maximum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation.)

RI - SB2745 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 - SB2746 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Requires that any lease of tidal lands, or any license issued to use those lands, be approved by the general assembly, and that the coastal resources management council review all request prior to presentation to the general assembly.)

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 - SB2808 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR DECOMMISSIONING PLANS (Requires that developers of ground-mounted solar systems submit a plan for decommissioning to be held on file by the municipality and requires DEM, with the office of energy resources, make publicly available model decommissioning plans.)

RI - SB2809 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 - SB2810 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 - SB2811 AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (Provides that the legislature would be the body that negotiates on behalf of the state for all activities occurring in, on and over state submerged land extending beyond twenty-five (25) acres.)

RI - SB2812 AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PET INSURANCE ACT (Enacts a chapter to regulate pet insurance.)

RI - SB2848 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 - SB2849 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- EXCAVATION NEAR UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES (Amends the provision of notice to be provided for the release of any hazardous gas or liquid as determined by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.)

RI - SB2850 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 - SB2928 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 transfers all of the powers and duties between the two (2) authorities.)

RI - SB2952 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 - SB2953 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 - SB2954 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 - SB2955 AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE (Permits the department of environmental management and local municipalities to drain, remove, and replace an overflowing septic tank or system.)

RI - SB2956 AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION (Amends several provisions relative the powers and duties of the PUC and requires the submission by utilities of integrated distribution system plans identifying solutions to reduce greenhouse gases.)

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 - SB3120 AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS (Permits the town council of the town of Hopkinton to enact ordinances which increase the fines pertaining to the violation of any dog ordinance.)

RI - SB3144 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BEVERAGE CONTAINER DEPOSIT RECYCLING ACT (Establishes beverage container recycling to be regulated by DEM.)

RI - SR3146 SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS (This resolution would create an eight (8) member special legislative study commission whose purpose it would be to study renewable energy programs, and who would report back to the Senate by February 14, 2025, and would expire on June 30, 2025.)