2025 -- H 5492

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MICROPLASTICS REDUCTION ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, McGaw, Bennett, Kislak, Speakman, Carson,
Handy, Cortvriend, Spears, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2025

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. The general assembly hereby makes the following findings of fact:

     (1) Microplastic pollution is a growing water quality concern for inland and coastal

waterbodies throughout the state, and globally;

     (2) The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that, left

unchecked, plastic production is expected to triple by 2060;

     (3) Research from the University of Rhode Island finds there is now roughly one thousand

(1,000) tons of microplastic in the bottom sediment in Narragansett Bay, with the amount of

microplastic entering the Bay increasing in recent years;

     (4) Microplastics are known to enter the body by way of direct contact, ingestion through

food and tap water, and inhalation;

     (5) More information is needed to identify the sources of microplastics in the environment.

     SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 19.19

MICROPLASTICS REDUCTION ACT

     23-19.19-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Microplastics Reduction Act".

     23-19.19-2. Definitions.

     As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

     (1) “Department” means the department of environmental management.

     (2) "Intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles" means synthetic polymer

microplastics that a manufacturer has added to a product to confer a sought-after characteristic, in

mixtures in a concentration equal to or greater than one one-hundredth percent (0.01%) by weight.

     (3) "Manufacturer" means the person that manufactures a product or whose brand name is

affixed to the product. In the case of a product imported into the United States, "manufacturer"

includes the importer or first domestic distributor of the product if the person that manufactured or

assembled the product or whose brand name is affixed to the product does not have a presence in

the United States.

     (4) "Microplastics" means synthetic polymer microparticles that have been added to a

product or is an intentional or unintentional breakdown product of a consumer or industrial product

or process.

     (5) "Particle" means a minute piece of matter, other than single molecules, with defined

physical boundaries.

     (6) "Plastic" means a polymer that is solid or semi-solid; the term "plastic" excludes

polymers that are the result of a polymerization process that has taken place in nature,

independently of the process through which they have been extracted, which are not chemically

modified substances.

     (7) "Product" means an item manufactured, assembled, packaged or otherwise prepared for

sale to consumers, including its product components, sold or distributed for personal, residential,

commercial or industrial use, including for use in making other products. Product does not mean

used products offered for sale or resale.

     (8) "Solid" means a substance or mixture other than a liquid or gas.

     (9) "Synthetic polymer microparticles" means polymers that are solid and which fulfill both

of the following conditions:

     (i) Are contained in particles and constitute at least one percent (1%) by weight of those

particles; or build a continuous surface coating on particles;

     (ii) At least one percent (1%) by weight of the particles fulfill either of the following

conditions:

     (A) All dimensions of the particles are equal to or less than five millimeters (5mm);

     (B) The length of the particles is equal to or less than fifteen millimeters (15mm) and the

particle's length is greater than three (3) times the diameter;

     (iii) "Synthetic polymer microparticles" does not include:

     (A) Polymers that are the result of a polymerization process that has taken place in nature

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and not as a result of human intervention, independently of the process through which they have

been extracted, which are not chemically modified substances.

     23-19.19-3. Elimination of microplastics.

     (a) Beginning January 1, 2029, a manufacturer shall not sell, offer for sale or distribute into

the commerce of this state any product containing intentionally added synthetic polymer

microparticles.

     (b) The requirements in subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to products that are

preempted from regulation by federal law.

     23-19.19-4. Microplastics testing plan and strategy plan.

     (a) The department shall, in consultation with the department of health, develop a

microplastics testing plan to determine if or when to regularly test water, soil and other

environmental media as appropriate for the presence of microplastics, including, but not limited to,

microplastics that have been shed from vehicle tires.

     (1) The microplastics testing plan shall describe analytical methods available that are

consistent with the best available science.

     (2) The microplastics testing plan shall be made public no later than July 1, 2028. The

department shall update the microplastics testing plan every twenty-four (24) months following the

initial publication.

     (b) No later than January 1, 2029, the department shall, in consultation with the department

of health, adopt and publish a statewide microplastics strategy plan that shall include, but not be

limited to, the following:

     (1) The characterization of ambient concentrations of microplastics in environmental

media and an assessment of the environmental and health impacts associated with microplastic

contamination using the best available preexisting scientific research;

     (2) An investigation of the sources and relative importance of pathways associated with the

environmental impacts of microplastics determined to be significant pursuant subsection (b)(1) of

this section;

     (3) A summary of existing scientific research on approaches for reducing the introduction

of microplastics into environmental media from significant pathways of exposure, with an emphasis

on the sizes, shapes, and types of microplastics that are associated with significant environmental

impacts; and

     (4) Recommendations for policy changes, including statutory changes, or additional

research that may be needed to reduce or eliminate the presence of microplastics in environmental

media.

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     (c) In developing and implementing the statewide microplastics strategy plan, the

department may utilize existing information and leverage ongoing efforts, where possible.

     (d) The department shall update the microplastics strategy plan every twenty-four (24)

months following the initial publication.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MICROPLASTICS REDUCTION ACT

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     This act would prohibit a manufacturer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing into

commerce any product containing synthetic polymer micro particles, beginning January 1, 2029,

would call for the adoption of microplastics testing plan of water, soil, and other environmental

media for the presence of microplastics, and would adopt a statewide microplastics strategy plan.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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