Watch List - 2016
ECRI may or may not have an official stance on these bills. People interested in tracking legislation during the session are encouraged to sign up for an account in the General Assembly's Bill Tracker system.
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Bill Title | House Bill # & Sponsor | Senate Bill & Sponsor | House Committee | Senate Committee | House Bill Status | Senate Bill Status | ECRI Position |
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Increases Penalties for Intentionally Damaging Protected Land Proposes to increase penalities for people who cut trees, steal stone walls, or otherwise intentionally damage protected open space lands. Current penalties are little more than a hand slap and are not a strong deterrent to keep people from damaging open space lands. This legislation is based on effective legislation in CT. |
7606 Cale P. Keable |
2718 V. Susan Sosnowski |
2015-2016 House Committee on Judiciary | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Judiciary | Passed House - Sent to Senate | Deferred |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
Expanding The Renewable Energy Growth Program Expands the renewable energy growth program for an additional 10 years after the 5th program year, with an annual target of 40 nameplate mgw for each of the 10 year period. |
7473 Deborah Ruggiero |
2181 William A. Walaska |
2015-2016 House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | Deferred | In Committee |
Legislative Priority *Support* |
Green Economy Bond This bond, if approved will appear on the November ballot, will ask Rhode Islanders to invest $35 million in the state's growing "green economy". Historic State Park Development Program ($7 M); State Land Acquisition Program ($4 M); State Bikeway Development Program ($10 M); Brownfield Remediation & Economic Development ($5 M); Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program($3 M); Local Recreation Development Matching Grant Program ($2 M). Get more details here. |
7454 Marvin L. Abney |
2015-2016 House Committee on Finance | Signed |
Legislative Priority *Support* |
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Renewable Energy Fund Extension Article 18 of the Governor's Budget proposes to extend the The Renewable Energy Fund (REF) from the end of 2016 until 2022. The REF provides financial and administrative support for a variety of renewable energy projects. It helps potential project owners conduct feasibility studies and helps grow local green sources of energy. |
7454 Marvin L. Abney |
2450 William J. Conley |
2015-2016 House Committee on Finance | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Finance | House Vote | Signed |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
RIPTA authority appointment Members to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate; with at least one of the seven (7) being a regular user of fixed route RIPTA transportation and at least one of the seven (7) being a person with a disability. |
7329 Eileen S. Naughton |
2373 Juan M. Pichardo |
2015-2016 House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government | Signed | Signed |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
Dry Lands Bill Provides that wetland buffers not be excluded from the calculation of buildable lot areas, minimum lot sizes or in the calculation of buildable lots or units. |
7651 K. Joseph Shekarchi |
2591 Michael J. McCaffrey |
2015-2016 House Committee on Municipal Government | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | Signed | Signed |
Legislative Priority *Oppose* |
Producer Responsibility for Packaging Establishes a Producer Responsibility for Packaging sold into Rhode Island. |
7896 Christopher R. Blazejewski |
2605 William A. Walaska |
In Committee | ||||
Phasing out Flame Retardants legislation would phase out the use of oranohalogen flame retardant chemicals, which are linked to cancer, learning disabilities, and reproductive dysfunction, from upholstered furniture and chikdren's products. |
7977 |
2015-2016 House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
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Fragrance disclosure in cosmetics The legislation would require cosmetics manufacturers to disclose all ingredients in their products, including the chemicals used in fragrance. |
7915 Carlos E. Tobon |
2698 Donna M. Nesselbush |
2015-2016 House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services | In Committee |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
|
Clean Energy Investment and Carbon Pricing Act Makes the investments we need to secure energy independence and move toward the economy of the future. |
7325 J. Aaron Regunberg |
2015-2016 House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources | Deferred |
Legislative Priority *Support* |
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Renewable Energy Standard (2016) This act would extend the 2004 Renewable Energy Standard Schedule Program, which required the suppliers of retail electricity to obtain minimum increasing amounts of renewable energy resources, beyond 2019 to 2035. |
7413 Deborah Ruggiero |
2185 V. Susan Sosnowski |
2015-2016 House Committee on Corporations | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | Signed | Signed |
Legislative Priority *Support* |
Energy Facility Siting Board This act would increase the membership of the energy facility siting board from three (3) to seven (7) members, and would require approval by the electors in Burrillville of any tax agreement established by the town council with a power plant located in the town. |
8240 Cale P. Keable |
3037 Paul W. Fogarty |
2015-2016 House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Judiciary | Deferred | Deferred |
Legislative Priority *Support* |
Banning of Neonicotinoids Act This bill would prohibit or otherwise severely restrict the application of pesticide products containing neonicotinoids, including but not limited to the application of pesticide products containing any of the following: acetamiprid; clothianidin;dinotefuran; imidacloprid (the most widely used insecticide in the world); nitenpyram; nithizine; and thiamethoxam. The purpose is to halt the severe decline of pollinators, primarily honey bees. One-third of food produced in North America depends on pollination by honey bees, including nearly 95 varieties of fruits such as almonds, avocados, cranberries, and apples. |
2798 Joshua Miller |
2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | In Committee |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
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Green Buildings Act Amendments Expands the "Green Buildings Act" to include public projects and updates the standards to include LEED for Neighborhood Development, and SITES. |
7819 Lauren Carson |
2015-2016 House Committee on Finance | Deferred |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
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Mercury Reduction and Education Act The bill would require manufacturers to fund a statewide recycling program for light bulbs containing mercury. It also calls for DEM to set and enforce higher collection goals for the existing EPR program for mercury thermostats. |
8266 Arthur Handy |
2095 Dominick J. Ruggerio |
2015-2016 House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | Signed | Signed |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
Elimination of Tax on Hard to Dispose of Material Repeals the imposition of the tax on hard-to-dispose material. |
7724 Robert B. Lancia |
2015-2016 House Committee on Finance | Deferred | ||||
Relating To Public Utilities & Carriers - Public Utilities Commission Requires the division of public utilities and carriers and the public utilities commission to include climate, environmental, employment, health and consumer concerns in all their proceedings and decisions. |
7514 J. Aaron Regunberg |
2015-2016 House Committee on Corporations | Deferred |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
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House Resolution for Protecting Pollinators Resolution 301. Requests that the Dept. of Environmental Management convene a working group to make recommendations to maintain and protect pollinator health and habitat in Rhode Island. |
8265 Cale P. Keable |
2015-2016 House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources | House Vote |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |
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Dept. of Transportation Reporting on Stormwater Drainage Maintenance This act would require the RI Dept of Transportation to annually report to the General Assembly their compliance with the consent decree issued by the United States District Court relative to maintenance of certain drainage systems. |
7072 Lauren Carson |
2015-2016 House Committee on Finance | In Committee | ||||
Virtual Net Metering This act would expand the state's net metering policy to include renewable energy projects in which energy is distributed off-site from a customer's account and would establish an energy system credit benefit or charge. |
7585 J. Aaron Regunberg |
2592 Louis P. DiPalma |
2015-2016 House Committee on Corporations | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture | Deferred | Deferred | |
Court Review Standards for Proposed Amendments to Conservation Easements This legislation addresses the unintended consequences of legislation adopted in 2011. The legislation distinguishes court review standards for proposals to terminate or amend conservation easements. It clarifies the standard for proposed amendments to enable the Court, upon review, to approve a proposed amendment that results in a net gain to conservation values protected by a conservation easement. |
7196 Christopher R. Blazejewski |
2233 Louis P. DiPalma |
2015-2016 House Committee on Judiciary | 2015-2016 Senate Committee on Judiciary | Deferred | Passed Senate - Sent to House |
Legislative Agenda *Support* |