2022 Legislative Agenda

Adds advanced recycling as a definition for refuse disposal. Adds the advanced recycling facility that means a facility that receives, stores and converts post-use polymers and recovered feedstocks using advanced recycling.

Requires the Dept of Environmental Management to create environmental justice areas.

This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $150,000 to the Department of Environmental Management.

This act would define and provide that "per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances" (PFAS) be included within the definition of "hazardous substances" for purposes of industrial property remediation and reuse.

This bill does not limit installation of a net metering system based on 3 years prior, and would also credit consumer for energy not used.

Requires a yearly deposit of $200 per solar panel into an escrow account for the future disposal and exempts residential homeowners from the deposit.

Climate incentives for connecting new gas customers.

This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $150,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the creation of a public relations and communications plan.

 Creates the building performance standards act to, by way of benchmarking and reporting, create a statewide analysis of energy use and ways to increase energy efficiency.

This act would prohibit the sale of miniature alcoholic beverage containers in Rhode Island. This act would exempt the sale or distribution of miniature alcoholic beverage containers to passengers on commercial railroad trains or aircraft, as long as the containers are collected prior to passengers disembarking off the train or aircraft.

This legislation requires carbon-emissions-reduction goals be considered in energy plant siting proceedings.

Amends the revenue decoupling reconciliation mechanism used by a gas distribution company for the purposes of revenue decoupling to not require that distribution be determined on a revenue-per-customer basis.

This act would prohibit the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) from imposing any fares and/or charges for service provided to the general public.

This bill would provide that no city or town would issue a permit for the construction of new buildings that are not an all-electric building, if the initial application for a permit was submitted after December 31, 2023, unless certain circumstances apply. Exceptions would be for restaurants, hospitals, medical facilities or biolabs.

Establishes a lead water supply replacement program for public and private service lines and requires disclosure to tenants and buyers of real property of the presence of lead service lines.

Restricts the use of neonicotinoids which are a class of insecticides.

This act would create a refundable ten cent ($0.10) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A four cent ($0.04) handling fee would be paid by distributors.

This bill will allow for a statewide voter referendum seeking approval of capital development bonds for school buildings in the amount of three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) on the November 2022 ballot. Included are incentives for energy-efficient building practices.

Provides a definition of the Recognizable High Tide Line for the Public's Rights and Privileges of the Shore.

Prohibits use of PFAS in carpets, upholstered furniture, textile furnishings, apparel, cosmetics, juvenile products, cookware, firefighting foam and gives authority to the department of environmental management to regulate and the use.

This act would enact the extended producer responsibility for packaging act requiring producers of packaging material to make changes to their product design in an effort to reduce the use of non-reusable, non-recyclable and toxic packaging. This act would further create the producer responsibility program requiring producers to make necessary changes to their product design(s) to reduce packaging consumption and waste, and assess fees based on the packaging.

This bill would Impose an adaption fee on every barrel of petroleum products and asphalt products received at a marine terminal within this state.