AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- STATE FORESTS AND FORESTRY PROJECTS, the official text

H7243 2026 -- H 7243 ======== LC004379 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- STATE FORESTS AND FORESTRY PROJECTS Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Santucci, Chippendale, Stewart, Spears, Casimiro, Potter, Place, Tanzi, and Speakman Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 2-10 of the General Laws entitled State Forests and Forestry 2 Projects is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 2-10-14. Expansion of department of environmental management personnel. 4 The general assembly shall appropriate, in the fiscal year 2027 budget, a sum sufficient to 5 fund ten (10) additional full-time equivalent ( FTE ) positions, to be assigned to the department of 6 environmental management (the department ) as well as fund their necessary equipment and 7 supplies. It is the intent of the general assembly that these positions be used in part to focus, support, 8 and expand on the department s efforts in the areas of woodlands, forests, and forestry projects. 9 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004379 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- STATE FORESTS AND FORESTRY PROJECTS *** 1 This act would direct the general assembly to appropriate in the fiscal year 2027 budget, a 2 sum sufficient to fund ten additional full time equivalent ( FTE ) positions to be assigned to the 3 department of environmental management (the department ), and to fund necessary equipment 4 and supplies, with the intent to support and expand the department s efforts in the areas of forests 5 and forestry projects. 6 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004379 ======== LC004379 - Page 2 of 2