| Chapter 208 |
| 2026 -- H 7071 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/19/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT |
Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Bennett, Kislak, Santucci, McGaw, Carson, Speakman, Spears, Donovan, and Cortvriend |
| Date Introduced: January 14, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 2-15 of the General Laws entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants |
| Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 2-15-5.1. Terrestrial invasive plants — Prohibition on importation. |
| (a) No person shall import, disperse, distribute, introduce, or sell,in the state any species of |
| non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director shall promulgate rules |
| and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement |
| shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its |
| applicability take effect. |
| (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred |
| dollars ($500). |
| (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section |
| together with a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants pursuant to § 20-1-26. |
| SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General |
| Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 20-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants — Prohibition on importation and |
| possession. |
| (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase, or |
| possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as defined |
| by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and |
| its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and |
| regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect. |
| (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred |
| dollars ($500). |
| (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section |
| together with a listing of all prohibited terrestrial plants pursuant to § 2-15-5.1. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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| LC003172/SUB A |
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