Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Rhode Island General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-29. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
H7618 2026 -- H 7618 ======== LC004907 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY Introduced By: Representatives Handy, and Slater Date Introduced: February 11, 2026 Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Legislative findings. 2 (1) Trees filter pollutants from the air and water, improving air and water quality. 3 (2) Trees provide shade, which helps cool down urban areas and reduce the urban heat 4 island effect. 5 (3) Trees store carbon, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate 6 change. 7 (4) Trees improve soil water retention and reduce the risk of flooding by absorbing excess 8 rainfall. 9 (5) Trees can reduce energy costs for cooling buildings by providing shade and reducing 10 the need for air conditioning. 11 (6) Trees also provide social benefits, including public health, wildlife habitat and 12 community wellbeing. 13 SECTION 2. Section 2-15-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 2-15 entitled Protection of 14 Trees and Plants Generally is hereby amended to read as follows: 15 2-15-11. Penalty for violations of §§ 2-15-6, 2-15-8, 2-15-9, and 2-15-10. 16 (a) Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of §§ 2-15-6, 2-15-8, 2-15-9, 17 or 2-15-10, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) two hundred 18 dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each 1 offense. 2 (b) The director of the department of environmental management has the authority to order 3 anyone convicted of violating § 2-15-8 or any governmental entity which the director determines 4 violated § 2-15-8 to plant a replacement tree or trees, the sum of the diameters of which are equal 5 to twice three (3) times that removed or damaged, in the immediate vicinity of the tree removed. 6 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC004907 ======== LC004907 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY *** 1 This act would increase the maximum penalty for certain violations related to the cutting, 2 removal, damage by injurious liquids or gases to trees, plants and shrubs on any public highway or 3 public land under the jurisdiction of state agencies from five hundred dollars ($500) to one thousand 4 dollars ($1,000). It would also require that any replacement tree be equal to three (3) times the 5 diameter of the tree that was removed. 6 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC004907 ======== LC004907 - Page 3 of 3
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