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HB 8152

AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- FORESTRY AND FOREST PARITY ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Casimiro and 7 co-sponsors

Rhode Island technicians: HB 8152 parity law treats forestry operations the same as farming for taxes, zoning, and nuisance protections to boost forest-based business viability.

05/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8152

Overview

  • Bill: HB 8152
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- FORESTRY AND FOREST PARITY ACT
  • Purpose: Establish parity between forestry/forest product operations and farming/agriculture in Rhode Island law. Create tax and zoning parity, broaden protections for forest landowners and forest-based businesses, and clarify definitions and exemptions related to forestry activities.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Provide parity of treatment under the law for forestry and forest product operations with farming and agriculture operations.
  • Promote the economic viability of the forest products industry to support forest conservation, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
  • Safeguard forestry operations from nuisance actions in conflicts with urban/suburban land uses, similar to rights provided to farming under existing law.
  • Ensure forestry product operations are recognized and treated similarly to agriculture in taxation, regulation, and zoning contexts.

Key Provisions and Changes

  1. Chapter: Forestry and Forest Parity Act (new CHAPTER 2-27.1)
    • 2-27.1-2 Purpose: Create parity of treatment with farming/agriculture for forestry and forest product operations.
    • 2-27.1-3 Definitions:
      • Formal definitions for "forest-based business," "forest land," "forest management," "forest product operations," and "forest property owner," aligning they with existing agriculture definitions where relevant.
      • Broad scope for "forest product operations" (e.g., arboriculture, logging, kiln drying, firewood, saw milling, lumber, pallets, biomass, mulch, compost, wood chips, etc.).
    • 2-27.1-4 Declaration of policies:
      • Favorability against nuisance actions stemming from forestry operations in urban/suburban settings.
      • Protect forest landowners with forest management plans from over-broad state actions beyond those applicable to farms.
      • Align forestry protections with Right to Farm Act concepts where appropriate.
  • 2-27.1-5 Intentional and negligent actions: Excludes malicious/negligent forestry actions or violations of law from these protections.

  1. Inland Vehicle Definition

    • 31-1-8.1. Forestry vehicle: Defines vehicles used for forest product operations, with allowances for family/employees/designees; requires evidence of forestry purposes per related statute.

  2. Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Section 4)

    • Reiterates purposes to promote agriculture, forestry, tourism, and related economic development, including projects on non-federal land.

  3. Local Taxation - Tangible Personal Property (Section 5)

    • Amends 44-5-12.1 to introduce an exemption framework and depreciation classifications; includes a specific subcategory for forestry product operations equipment and parts (e.g., chainsaws, log skidders, sawmills, firewood kilns, etc.).
    • Forest product operations equipment and parts are explicitly listed as eligible for exemption from local taxation when used directly for forestry operations.

  4. Sales and Use Tax Exemptions (Section 7)

    • Adds forestry product operations equipment and machinery exemptions to sales/use tax (within the broad existing exemption framework). Examples include sawmills, loggers, firewood processors, pallet kilns, planers, debarkers, etc.
    • Creates exemptions for certain forestry-related purchases necessary for commercial forest product operations.

  5. Forester-Related Exemptions in Other Tax Provisions

    • Exemption adjustments and classifications across sections related to agricultural/farm land, and other tax-related exemptions to reflect forestry parity (e.g., seeds/plants used to grow food, etc., updated to reflect forest uses where needed).

  6. Zoning and Land Use (Section 9)

    • 45-24-37: Adds plant agriculture and forest product operations as permitted uses within all zoning districts, including industrial and commercial, unless prohibited for public health, safety, or wildlife habitat reasons.
    • Facilitates adaptive reuse provisions and related density/height/parking considerations, with explicit inclusion of forestry operations as permitted in all districts.
    • Provides for accessibility and reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
    • Confers that ADUs are permitted, and promotes adaptive reuse with specific density requirements and parking provisions.
    • Strengthens allowance for forestry-related uses to be integrated within zoning.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Forest landowners and forest-based businesses operating in Rhode Island.
  • Forestry product operations equipment, vehicles, and facilities (e.g., mills, kilns, loggers, sawyers, firewood processors).
  • Local governments (tax assessors and municipalities) regarding property tax exemptions for forestry equipment/buildings.
  • The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as a state economic development agency for forestry-related activities.
  • Zoning ordinances and land-use planning to recognize forestry as a permitted use in all districts.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced February 27, 2026; referred to House Finance.
  • Hearing: Scheduled for May 26, 2026 (per action history).
  • Effective Date: Takes effect upon passage.
  • Legislative intent section indicates broad, liberal construction to achieve parity and promote forestry-related economic activity.

Practical Impact

  • Potential tax relief for forestry equipment and operations at the local level (tangible personal property exemption; sales/use tax exemptions for forestry equipment).
  • Reduced regulatory friction for forestry operations relative to other commercial activities in zoning, by treating forest product operations similarly to farming.
  • Increased predictability for forest landowners and forest product businesses regarding nuisance protections and land-use conflicts with urban/suburban neighbors, aligned with Right to Farm principles.
  • Expanded permitted-use framework could encourage forestry-related investment and conservation by ensuring forestry activities can occur more easily within various zoning contexts.

Note: The bill emphasizes parity with farming, aims to bolster forest conservation through economic viability, and seeks to modernize tax and zoning treatment to align forestry with agricultural operations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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