2026 -- S 2352 SUBSTITUTE A

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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

     

     Introduced By: Senators McKenney, Britto, Gu, Urso, and Vargas

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 2-15 of the General Laws entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants

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Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     2-15-5.1. Terrestrial invasive plants — Prohibition on importation.

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     (a) No person shall import, disperse, distribute, introduce, or sell, in the state any species

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of non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director shall promulgate

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rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The prohibition and its

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enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing the prohibition

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and its applicability take effect.

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     (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred

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dollars ($500).

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     (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section

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together with a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants pursuant to § 20-1-26.

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     SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General

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Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     20-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants — Prohibition on importation and

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possession.

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     (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase, or

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possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as defined

 

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by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and

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its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and

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regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect.

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     (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred

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dollars ($500).

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     (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section

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together with a listing of all prohibited terrestrial plants pursuant to § 2-15-5.1.

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     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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     This act would prohibit the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species

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of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.

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     This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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