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.
S2352 2026 -- S 2352 ======== LC004299 ======== 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 -- 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: 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 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. ======== LC004299 ======== LC004299 - 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 -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT *** 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. ======== LC004299 ======== LC004299 - Page 3 of 3
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