Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7071: AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT (Prohibits the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.)
Status: Signed into law, June 19, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 14, 2026:
2026 -- H 7071 ======== LC003172 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, Bennett, Kislak, Santucci, McGaw, Carson, Speakman, Spears, Donovan, and Cortvriend Date Introduced: January 14, 2026 Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 2-15 of the General Laws entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants Generally" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2-15-5.1. Terrestrial invasive plants -- Prohibition on importation. (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, or purchase, in the state any species of non-native (exotic) invasive plants, as defined by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The prohibition and its enforcement shall not become effective until the rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability take effect. (b) Violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500). (c) The director shall maintain a listing of all prohibited plants pursuant to this section together with a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants pursuant to § 20-1-26. SECTION 2. Section 20-1-26 of the General Laws …
Sponsors
- Jennifer Boylan (D, HD-066) · primary sponsor
- David Bennett (D, HD-020)
- Rebecca Kislak (D, HD-004)
- Paul Santucci (R)
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- Lauren Carson (D, HD-075)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Susan Donovan (D, HD-069)
- Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D, HD-072)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : House passed Sub A
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- House Seq #234: PASSAGE (June 2, 2026): 66 yea, 7 nay, passed
- House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources: Passage of Sub A (May 27, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
Common questions
- What is H7071?
- H7071 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT (Prohibits the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants.).
- What is the status of H7071?
- Signed into law as of June 19, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7071?
- Jennifer Boylan (D, HD-066), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7071?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7071A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.