Bill

SB 2885

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ASBESTOS ABATEMENT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Appollonio and 4 co-sponsors

Modernizes and strengthens asbestos abatement and radon control by establishing comprehensive licensing, training, enforcement, and notification requirements to protect occupants.

06/10/2026 Signed by Governor

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · SB 2885

Summary of SB 2885 (2026) – Rhode Island

Purpose and intent

Relates to health and safety, specifically asbestos abatement and radon control.
Aims to modernize and clarify provisions in the asbestos abatement statute, remove obsolete language, and align with current regulatory practices.
Establishes comprehensive definitions, licensing, competency, training, notification, and enforcement related to asbestos abatement; also updates radon testing/mitigation oversight.
Effective date: upon passage.

Key provisions and changes

Asbestos Abatement (Chapter 23-24.5)
- Definitions (Section 23-24.5-2)
- Refines terms such as abatement, abatement process, action criteria, asbestiform materials, ACM, RACM, friable materials, and building priority categories (high, intermediate, low).
- Clarifies owner, private/public buildings, and roles of competent persons and state department of health.
- Asbestos exposure standards (Section 23-24.5-5)
- Sets a baseline indoor non-occupational air exposure standard of 0.01 f/cc (8-hour TWA) for asbestos before the director issues independent air exposure standards.
- Authorizes director to regulate: sale/use of asbestos, indoor air standards, inspection criteria, abatement plan requirements, public occupancy standards, licensing/certification, and educational materials.
- Abatement plans (Section 23-24.5-6)
- Public/private building owners with friable asbestos must file an abatement plan within 120 days of notice if in violation and plan to monitor, educate, minimize fiber release, and protect occupants.
- Plans must detail remedies (repair, enclosure, encapsulation, removal), contractor selection criteria, timelines, disposal, and compliance with exposure standards.
- Special demolition exemption: if a public/private residence is demolished, abatement plan still required for pre-demolition removal by a licensed contractor.
- Director review: plans approved, amended, or rejected within 90 days.
- Enforcement: fines up to $2,500/day for noncompliance; access limitations can apply to designated competent persons or certified consultants.
- Fees: potential fees for plan review, following state procurement rules.
- Validity: approvals expire if work hasn’t started within 6–12 months; extensions require written approval.
- Compliance: abatement activity must comply with the most current applicable regulations.
- Revocation: director can revoke approvals for false statements; right to a hearing within 10 days.
- Mandatory abatement plan for renovation/demolition involving ACM unless already regulated by other circumstances.
- Posting, labeling, and notices (Section 23-24.5-8)
- Requires warning signs at entrances and conspicuous places for public-access buildings with friable asbestos or during abatement work.
- Possible regulations for posting and marking asbestos in public buildings.
- Filing notices of violation in land evidence records for noncompliant structures.
- Licensure of asbestos contractors (Section 23-24.5-12)
- Contractors and disposal of friable asbestos require state license; permits cannot be issued without approved abatement plan and licensed contractor.
- Establishes licensure procedures, training standards, and annual public listing of licensed contractors.
- Requires licensee photo ID at worksites; fees for licenses/licensure; grounds for suspension/revocation.
- Competent persons (Section 23-24.5-13)
- Public (or related) buildings must appoint competent persons (employees) within 18 months.
- Competent persons supervise inspections, review records, coordinate with the health department, maintain records, assist with abatement specifications, inspect procedures, alert occupants, and review external contractor work.
- Parents or teacher representatives may volunteer for certification and accompany competent persons.
- Training, curricula, and certification (Section 23-24.5-14)
- Director to regulate licensure/certification for competent persons, public maintenance staff, teacher/parent representatives, labs, consultants/inspectors.
- Establish training standards (minimum 32 hours suggested) covering hazards, regulations (OSHA/EPA/Right-to-Know), PPE and decontamination, work practices, material identification, air monitoring, and related topics.
- Card-based identification for trained personnel; penalties for violations ($500 per violation).
- Reciprocally recognize training/certification programs; potential reciprocal recognition fees.
- Misrepresentation of licensure (Section 23-24.5-25)
- Prohibits false claims of licensure or certification for asbestos-related services and requires accuracy in representations.
Radon Control (Chapter 23-61)
- Licensing and certification (Section 23-61-5)
- Creates certification/licensing requirements for radon-related services: air testing/sampling (screening and diagnostic), mitigation planning, and related training.
- Allows fees for licenses/certifications, with restricted receipt accounting.
- Penalties: $500 for first offense, $1,000 for second and subsequent offenses; forfeiture of fees from violations.
- Exemption: private individuals testing/mitigating their own residence or donation-based private testing exemption.
- Notification (Section 23-61-6)
- Public/high-priority buildings must notify the health department before radon mitigation activities.

Who would be affected

Building owners (public and private), including schools, daycare centers, and other high-occupancy facilities.
Asbestos contractors, workers, site supervisors, and laborers requiring licensure and ongoing training.
Competent persons (employees of building owners or administrators) responsible for inspection and oversight.
Public agencies and municipal entities overseeing state and private buildings.
Radon service providers (screening, testing, mitigation planning, training) and private homeowners in limited exemptions.
General public, through improved safety standards and posting/notice requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Abatement plans must be filed within 120 days of violation notice; plans reviewed within 90 days.
Abatement plan approvals expire if work hasn’t commenced within 6–12 months, with possible 90-day extensions in writing.
Competent persons must be appointed within 18 months for publicly owned buildings.
Licensure and certification processes for asbestos and radon services to be established by the director, with associated fees, training standards, and public contractor listings.
Notices and postings must be made where friable asbestos is present or undergoing abatement; violations may be recorded in land records.