AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL (Restricts application of pesticides and rodenticides at schools and childcare centers and requires schools to provide copies of notice to parents and guardians.)

S2439

2026 -- S 2439
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LC003437
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL

Introduced By:
Senators Vargas, Lauria, Appollonio, Murray, Bell, Valverde, Britto, and
Thompson

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Sections 23-25-37 and 23-25-38 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-25
2
entitled "Pesticide Control" are hereby amended to read as follows:
3

23-25-37.
Pesticide applications and notification of pesticide applications at schools

4
Pesticide and rodenticide applications and notification of pesticide and rodenticide
5
applications at schools.
6
(a) The department of environmental management and the department of health shall
7
develop regulations as follows: (1) to restrict the use of hazardous pesticides
and rodenticides
in
8
schools, pre-schools and child care centers in Rhode Island
, including a prohibition on the use of
9
any pesticide or rodenticide containing the herbicide glyphosate
; (2) for the promotion and
10
implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) as defined in § 23-25.2-2; (3) to cover
11
situations where an emergency application of pesticide
or rodenticide
must be conducted to
12
eliminate an immediate threat to human health, and establish reporting requirements for these
13
emergency applications.
The regulations developed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall
14
be adopted and implemented no later than January 1, 2027.
15
(b)
(1)
On and after July 1, 2001, no person other than a licensed or certified commercial
16
applicator as defined in § 23-25-4, shall apply pesticide
and on and after January 1, 2027, no person
17
other than a licensed or certified commercial applicator as defined in § 23-25-4, shall apply
18
rodenticide
within any building or on the grounds of any school. This section shall not apply in the
19
case of an emergency application of pesticide
or rodenticide
to eliminate an immediate threat to

1
human health, where it is impractical to obtain the services of any such applicator; provided the
2
emergency application does not involve a restricted use or state limited use pesticide
or rodenticide
.
3
For purposes of this section, “emergency” means a sudden need to mitigate or eliminate a pest
4
which threatens the health or safety of a student or staff member.
Provided, further, effective
5
January 1, 2027, this section shall not apply to any regional vocational agriculture center.
6

(2) On or after July 1, 2027, no person shall apply a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide on
7
the grounds of any public or private preschool or public or private school including, but not limited
8
to, any day care, charter school or vocational school with students in grade twelve (12) or lower;
9
provided, however, that:
10

(i) An application of a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide may be made at a public or private
11
school, as provided in subsection (b)(2) of this section with students grade twelve (12) or lower, on
12
the playing fields and playgrounds of such school pursuant to an integrated pest management plan,
13
which plan:
14

(A) Shall be consistent with the model pest control management plan developed by the
15
department of environmental management and the department of health; and
16

(B) May be developed by a local district or regional school board (hereinafter "school
17
board") with approval from the department of environmental management and department of
18
health;
19

(ii) An emergency application of a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide may be made to
20
eliminate a threat to human health as defined in subsection (b)(1) of this section.
21
(c)(1)
(i)
On and after July 1, 2002, at the beginning of each school year, each local school
22
authority

and private school administration
shall provide the staff of each school and the parents or
23
guardians of each child enrolled in each school with a written statement of the
committee’s

school
24
board's
policy on pesticide application on school property and a description of any pesticide
25
applications made at the school during the previous school year.
26

(ii) On and after January 1, 2027, at the beginning of each school year, each local school
27
and private school administrator shall provide the staff of each school and the parents or guardians
28
of each child enrolled in each school with a written statement of the school board's policy on
29
rodenticide application on school property and a description of any rodenticide applications made
30
at the school during the previous school year.
31
(2) The statement and description shall be provided to the parents or guardians of any child
32
who transfers to a school during the school year. The statement shall: (i) indicate that the staff,
33
parents, or guardians may register for prior notice of pesticide
or rodenticide
applications at the
34
school; and (ii) describe the emergency notification procedures provided for in this section. Notice

LC003437 - Page 2 of 7
1
of any modification to the pesticide
or rodenticide
application policy shall be sent to any person
2
who registers for notice under this section.
3

(3) Effective on and after July 1, 2027, local school administrators shall, at the beginning
4
of each school year, make available as part of the requirements of this section, an integrated pest
5
management plan to parents, teachers and school staff with a copy to the department of education.
6
(d)
(1)
On
and
after July 1, 2002, parents or guardians of children in any school and school
7
staff may register for prior notice of pesticide application at their school. Each school shall maintain
8
a registry of persons requesting the notice. Prior to providing for any application of pesticide within
9
any building or on the grounds of any school, the local school
authority

administration
shall provide
10
for the distribution of notice to parents and guardians who have registered for prior notice under
11
this section, such that the notice is received no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the
12
application. Notice shall be given by any means practicable to school staff who have registered for
13
the notice. Notice under this subsection shall include:
(1) the

(i) The
common or trade name and
14
the name of the active ingredient;
(2) the

(ii) The
EPA registration number as listed on the pesticide
15
label;
(3) the

(iii) The
target pest;
(4) the

(iv) The
exact location of the application on the school
16
property;
(5) the

(v) The
date of the application;
and

(6) the

(vi) The
name of the school
17
administrator, or a designee, who may be contacted for further information
; and (vii) The above
18
information shall be sent to the department of education
.
19

(2) On and after July 1, 2027, parents or guardians of children in any school and school
20
staff may register for prior notice of rodenticide application at their school. Each school shall
21
maintain a registry of persons requesting the notice. Prior to providing for any application of
22
rodenticide within any building or on the grounds of any school, the local school administration
23
shall provide for the distribution of notice to parents and guardians who have registered for prior
24
notice under this section, such that the notice is received no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior
25
to the application. Notice shall be given by any means practicable to school staff who have
26
registered for the notice. Notice under this subsection shall include: (i) The common or trade name
27
and the name of the active ingredient; (ii) The EPA registration number as listed on the rodenticide
28
label; (iii) The target pest; (iv) The exact location of the application on the school property; (v) The
29
date of the application; (vi) The name of the school administrator, or a designee, who may be
30
contacted for further information; and (vii) The above information shall be sent to the department
31
of education.
32
(e) On and after July 1, 2003, no application of pesticide
and on and after January 1, 2027,
33
no application of rodenticide
may be made in any building or on the grounds of any school during
34
regular school hours or during planned activities at any school. No child shall enter an area where

LC003437 - Page 3 of 7
1
the application has been made until it is safe to do so according to the provisions on the pesticide
2
or rodenticide
label. This section shall not apply to the use of germicides, disinfectants, sanitizers,
3
deodorizers, antimicrobal agents, insecticidal gels, non-volatile insect or rodent bait in a tamper
4
resistant container, insect repellants or the application of a pesticide
or rodenticide
classified by the
5
United States Environmental Protection Agency as an exempt material under 40 CFR 152.25.
6
(f)
On and after July 1, 2002, a

The
local school
authority

administration
may make an
7
emergency application of pesticide
or rodenticide
without prior notice under this section in the
8
event of an immediate threat to human health, provided the
board

administration
provides for
9
notice, by any means practicable, on or before the day that the application is to take place, to any
10
person who has requested prior notice under this section.
11
(g) On and after July 1, 2002, notice of any pesticide application at a school
, and on or after
12
January 1, 2027, notice of any rodenticide application at a school
shall be given, by any means
13
practicable, to the parents or guardians of any child enrolled at the school and to the staff of the
14
school not later than one week after the application. The notice shall include: (1) the common or
15
trade name and the name of the active ingredient; (2) the EPA registration number as listed on the
16
pesticide
or rodenticide
label; (3) the target pest; (4) the exact location of the application on the
17
school property; (5) the date of the application; and (6) the name of the school administrator, or a
18
designee, who may be contacted for further information. A copy of the record of each pesticide
or
19
rodenticide
application at a school shall be maintained at the school for a period of five (5) years.
20
(h) Not later than
July 1, 2002

September 1, 2026
, the department of environmental
21
management and the department of health shall jointly establish a task force which shall specifically
22
address methods to promote public education and professional training about pesticides
and
23
rodenticides
, their potential health effects and IPM least toxic alternatives, and for evaluation and
24
analysis of current pest control practices at school and child care facilities.
The task force shall
25
complete a report on its findings no later than December 31, 2027 and shall submit a report to the
26
governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate detailing those findings.
27

(i) Storage of pesticide and rodenticide containers prior to disposal. Effective July 1, 2027,
28
all unused or unwanted pesticides or rodenticides being stored prior to disposal, whether in sealed
29
or previously opened containers, and all pesticide or rodenticide containers that have not been or
30
cannot be rinsed shall be:
31

(1) Kept in a secure enclosure; and
32

(2) Maintained so as to prevent:
33

(i) Deterioration of containers;
34

(ii) Unauthorized use;

LC003437 - Page 4 of 7
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(iii) Mishandling;
2

(iv) Loss;
3

(v) Contamination of the environment; and
4

(vi) Risk to the public health.
5

(j) Commencing January 1, 2027, the department of education shall provide to each school
6
district, school board of each school district, superintendent of each school district, and any day
7
care center under the supervision of the department of education with an explanation and the
8
requirements of the pesticide or rodenticide application and notification law.
9

(k) On or after January 1, 2027, every school that has pesticide or rodenticide applications
10
shall submit to the department of education a pesticide or rodenticide application report that shall
11
include the following:
12

(1) A description of the pesticide or rodenticide applied to the grounds and the dates and
13
times of the application;
14

(2) The name and title of the person applying the pesticides or rodenticides and whether
15
the person is in compliance with subsection (b) of this section requiring a licensed or certified
16
applicator to apply the pesticides or rodenticides;
17

(3) Any emergency applications of pesticides or rodenticides during the previous year; and
18

(4) Copies of any notice to parents issued pursuant to this section regarding pesticide or
19
rodenticide application.
20

23-25-38.
Pesticide applications and notification of pesticide applications at pre-
21
schools and child care centers
Pesticide and rodenticide applications and notification of
22
pesticide and rodenticide applications at pre-schools and child care centers.
23
(a) On and after July 1, 2003, no application of pesticide
and on and after January 1, 2027,
24
no application of rodenticide
may be made by any person other than a certified or licensed
25
commercial applicator as defined in § 23-25-4 in any building or on the grounds of any pre-school,
26
child day care center, group/family day care home or family day care home, during regular business
27
hours. No child enrolled at such center or home may enter an area where pesticides
or rodenticides

28
have been applied until it is safe to do so according to the provisions on the pesticide
or rodenticide

29
label. For purposes of this section, emergency shall mean a sudden need to mitigate or eliminate a
30
pest which threatens the health or safety of a student or staff member. This section shall not apply
31
to the use of germicides, disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, antimicrobal agents, insecticidal
32
gels, non-volatile insect or rodent bait in a tamper resistant container, insect repellants, insecticidal
33
disks, or the application of a pesticide
or rodenticide
classified by the United States Environmental
34
Protection Agency as an exempt material under 40 CFR part 152.25.

LC003437 - Page 5 of 7
1

(2) On and after July 1, 2027, no person shall apply a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide on
2
the grounds of any pre-school or child day care center; provided, however, that;
3

(i) An application of a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide may be made at a pre-school or
4
child day care center on the playing fields or playgrounds of such school pursuant to an integrated
5
pest management plan, which plan shall be consistent with the model pest control management plan
6
developed by the department of environmental management and the department of health; and
7

(ii) An emergency application of a lawn care pesticide or rodenticide may be made to
8
eliminate a threat to human health as defined in § 23-25-37.
9
(b) On and after July 1, 2002, notice of any pesticide
and on and after January 1, 2027,
10
notice of any rodenticide
application at any such center or home shall be given, by any means
11
practicable, to the parents or guardians of any child enrolled at the center or home not later than
12
twenty-four (24) hours before the application. The notice shall include: (1) the common or trade
13
name and the name of the active ingredient; (2) the EPA registration number as listed on the
14
pesticide
or rodenticide
label; (3) the target pest; (4) the exact location of the application on the
15
property; (5) the date of the application; and (6) the name of the pre-school or child care center
16
owner/operator or their designee.
17

(c) The department of health shall provide any public or private pre-school and child day
18
care center with an explanation and the requirements of the pesticide or rodenticide application and
19
notification law.
20

(d) On or after July 1, 2027, every pre-school and child day care center that has pesticide
21
and rodenticide applications shall submit to the department of education a copy of the notices that
22
were sent to parents and guardians.
23
SECTION 2. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is
24
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
25

16-21-43. PFAS in artificial athletic fields - Task force.

26

Not later than July 1, 2027, the department of environmental management and the
27
department of health shall jointly establish a task force which shall specifically investigate, identify
28
and address the presence of and potential health risk associated with the presence of poly-
29
fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in artificial fields at private and public schools in Rhode Island. The
30
task force shall report its findings no later than January 1, 2029, to the governor, speaker of the
31
house and president of the senate.
32
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003437
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LC003437 - Page 6 of 7
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL
***
1
This act would prohibit the application of lawn care pesticides or rodenticides on the
2
grounds of any public or private pre-school or public or private school with students in grade twelve
3
(12) or lower, except in an emergency situation or to be used on the playing fields and playgrounds
4
of the school as well as pre-schools and child care centers pursuant to an integrated pest
5
management plan as developed by the department of environmental management and the
6
department of health and would create a task force to study health risks of PFAS in athletic fields
7
to students who use them.
8
This act would also require a school department to provide a copy of the pesticide or
9
rodenticide application notice sent to parents and guardians to the department of education.
10
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003437
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LC003437 - Page 7 of 7