AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY OF MOTOR VEHICLE NON-EXHAUST PARTICLE EMISSIONS

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chippendale and 3 co-sponsors

Rhode Island would study non-exhaust vehicle emissions (tire, brake, road dust) and publish recommendations to reduce these impacts by Jan 1, 2026.

03/12/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Purpose and intent

HB 5609 would require the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), to conduct an environmental impact study of motor vehicle non-exhaust particle emissions. These emissions include microplastics, brake wear, tire wear, road wear, clutch wear, and road dust resuspension. The goal is to assess environmental impacts and develop recommendations to reduce tire-related particle emissions.

Key provisions

Create new Chapter 47.5 in Title 31 (Motor and Other Vehicles) establishing the Environmental Impact Study of Motor Vehicle Non-Exhaust Particle Emissions.

DOT, in consultation with DEM, shall conduct the study and may collaborate with an academic research institute as part of the effort.

The study must result in a written report to the General Assembly detailing environmental impacts and including recommendations to reduce tire particle emissions.

Both agencies must post the final report publicly on their websites no later than January 1, 2026.

Take effect upon passage.

Agencies and who is affected

Primary state agencies: Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Management.

Potential collaborators: academic research institutions.

Policy impact: findings and recommendations could inform future regulatory or legislative actions addressing non-exhaust vehicle emissions (e.g., tire wear, brake wear, road dust mitigation).

Public access: final report must be publicly posted, promoting transparency.

Timeline and status

Introduced: February 26, 2025.

Referred to: House Environment and Natural Resources.

Hearing/consideration schedule referenced: March 7, 2025; committee action on March 12, 2025.

Status: 03/12/2025 – Committee recommended the measure be held for further study (i.e., not yet enacted or sent to a final floor vote).

Related legislation: Companion bill SB 2103 (same subject matter).

Practical and policy implications

The bill does not mandate regulations or allocate funding; it directs a study with a reporting deadline.

The output is informational and strategic, designed to inform future policy decisions to reduce non-exhaust emissions.

By requiring public posting, the bill emphasizes transparency and may facilitate stakeholder input.

Summary

HB 5609 would formalize a state-side study of non-exhaust vehicle emissions (including microplastics, brake, tire, and road wear). It directs DOT and DEM to assess environmental impacts, potentially collaborate with a research institute, and deliver actionable recommendations to the General Assembly by January 1, 2026. The act would take effect upon passage, and the measure is currently under consideration, having been held for further study by the committee. A companion bill exists in the Senate as SB 2103.

Bill