AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- PROTECTION OF TREES AND PLANTS GENERALLY -- RHODE ISLAND INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Britto and 4 co-sponsors

Rhode Island would ban importing, transporting, or selling non-native invasive plants (terrestrial and freshwater aquatic) with rules and penalties up to $500 once implemented.

06/19/2026 Signed by Governor

Summary of SB 2352 (Rhode Island) – 2026

Purpose and intent

SB 2352 proposes the Rhode Island Invasive Plant Management Act, aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of non-native (exotic) invasive plants in the state. The measure focuses on terrestrial invasive plants and adds parallel provisions for freshwater aquatic invasive plants, with enforcement through regulatory rules and penalties.

Key provisions and changes

Prohibition on importation and related activities (terrestrial plants):

Section 2-15-5.1 would prohibit any person from importing, transporting, dispersing, distributing, introducing, selling, or purchasing any non-native invasive plant species within Rhode Island.
The director of the appropriate agency would promulgate rules to govern the prohibition and determine its applicability.
The prohibition and enforcement would take effect only after those rules and regulations become effective.
Violations carry a fine of up to $500.
The director must maintain a public listing of all prohibited terrestrial plants.

Prohibition on importation and related activities (freshwater aquatic plants):

Section 20-1-26 would mirror the terrestrial provisions for freshwater invasive aquatic plants: importation, transportation, dispersion, distribution, introduction, sale, purchase, or possession would be prohibited unless regulated by forthcoming rules.
Violations carry a fine of up to $500.
The director must maintain a listing of all prohibited aquatic plants and coordinate with the terrestrial prohibited-plant list.

Regulatory framework: In both terrestrial and aquatic sections, the act defers to the director to promulgate implementing rules and regulations and to determine applicability.

Effective date: The act would take effect January 1, 2027.

Who/what would be affected

Individuals and entities: Anyone in Rhode Island engaged in activities involving non-native invasive plants (import, transport, sale, purchase, etc.) would be subject to the prohibition and penalties once rules are in place.

Regulatory body: The state director (unspecified agency in the text but typically the environmental or agricultural authority) would be responsible for:

Defining what qualifies as “non-native invasive plants.”
Developing and implementing the regulatory framework.
Maintaining up-to-date prohibited plant lists (terrestrial and aquatic).

Public and ecosystems: By limiting introduction and spread of invasive plants, the measure targets potential ecological, agricultural, and economic harms associated with invasive species.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill specifies that the prohibitions become effective only after the director’s rules take effect.

Effective date of the overall act: January 1, 2027.

Legislative history indicates hearings and committee action in early 2026, with scheduled future consideration and amendments as the regulatory framework is developed.

Context and status

Introduced January 30, 2026, by Senators McKenney, Britto, Gu, Urso, and Vargas; co-sponsored by five senators.

Referred to the Senate Environment & Agriculture committee, with a phased process (hearing, committee recommendations) as the regulatory rules are developed.

This bill, if enacted, would create a state-wide regulatory regime to prevent the import and possession of non-native invasive terrestrial and freshwater aquatic plants, supported by formal listings and penalties for violations, with a finalized enforcement framework to be established by the director.