2026 -- H 7071 | |
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LC003172 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND | |
PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT | |
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Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Bennett, Kislak, Santucci, McGaw, Carson, | |
Date Introduced: January 14, 2026 | |
Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 2-15 of the General Laws entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants |
2 | Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 2-15-5.1. Terrestrial invasive plants — Prohibition on importation. |
4 | (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, or purchase, in |
5 | the state any species of non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director |
6 | shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The |
7 | prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing |
8 | the prohibition and its applicability take effect. |
9 | (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred |
10 | dollars ($500). |
11 | (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section |
12 | together with a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants pursuant to § 20-1-26. |
13 | SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General |
14 | Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
15 | 20-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants — Prohibition on importation and |
16 | possession. |
17 | (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase, or |
18 | possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as defined |
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1 | by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and |
2 | its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and |
3 | regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect. |
4 | (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred |
5 | dollars ($500). |
6 | (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section |
7 | together with a listing of all prohibited terrestrial plants pursuant to § 2-15-5.1. |
8 | SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND | |
PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT | |
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1 | This act would prohibit the importation, transportation, disbursement, distribution, sale, or |
2 | purchase, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants. |
3 | This act would take effect on January 1, 2027. |
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LC003172 | |
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