AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT (Prohibits the importation, transportation, disbursement, distribution, sale, purchase, or possession of any species of non-native (exotic) invasive plants.)

S2352

2026 -- S 2352
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LC004299
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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, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, or purchase, in
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the state any species of non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director
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shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The
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prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing
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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 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, transportation, disbursement, distribution, sale, or
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purchase, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC004299
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LC004299 - Page 3 of 3