Watch List - 2021

Requires the department of environmental management to create environmental justice areas.

This act would designate "Northern Star Coral" as the official state coral.

Requires parking lots to designate parking spaces for electric vehicles/installation of charging stations for new existing public/private parking lots with fines for parking violations/compliance. Effective 7/1/21.

Establishes minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliances and specified equipment purchased or installed after January 1, 2023

Creates a refundable ten cent ($0.10) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A four cents ($0.04) handling fee would be paid by distributors

Prohibits a food service establishment from providing a consumer with a single-use plastic straw, unless the consumer requests such a straw

Requires DOH to establish maximum contaminate levels of PFSA in drinking water and to set interim standards. Also requires DEM to set standards for PFSA in ground- and surface waters. Defines PFSA as hazardous substances.

Extending the reporting and expiration dates of the special senate commission to study the effect and procedures for the reorganization of the rhode island coastal resources management council (crmc)

Excludes municipal and government bodies that aggregate electrical loads for residential retail customers from the requirement that a new contract is required when there is a change of terms for electric-generation services

Creates the housing jobs department and a series of other initiatives designed to create jobs in housing construction, specifically affordable and low-income housing, green and solar energy jobs and programs for low-income individuals.

Creates the uniform natural gas leaks classification act which classifies gas leaks into different grades and identifies the steps and procedures to be taken and provides a reporting requirement for a gas company subsequent to a leak.

Creates a forest conservation commission, to be coordinated with the department of environmental management, to seek new funding and identify incentives for landowners to maintain their land as forest.

Requires the department of health, in conjunction with the department of environmental management, to conduct indoor and outdoor air quality tests in all public and private schools throughout the state on an annual basis.

Establishes a statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate.)

Establishes the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund. Enables municipalities and the state to apply for grants to improve public safety and community climate resilience for coastal habitats, as well as river and stream floodplains.

Requires schools to comply with recycling and composting laws and promotes the donation of unspoiled nonperishable food by schools. Requires the use of share tables at all schools.

Prohibits a covered establishment from preparing, selling, processing or providing food or beverages in or on a disposable food service container that is composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam

Creates a refundable four cent ($0.04) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A ten cent ($0.10) handling fee would be paid by distributors.

Creates the "Plastic Waste Reduction Act" designed to reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments by offering recyclable bag options and providing penalties for violations.

Requires carbon-emissions-reduction goals be considered in energy plant siting proceedings

Creates the uniform natural gas leaks classification act which classifies gas leaks into different grades and identifies the steps and procedures to be taken and provides a reporting requirement for a gas company subsequent to a leak.

Creates a refundable four cent ($0.04) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A ten cent ($0.10) handling fee would be paid by distributors.

Establishes the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund. Enables municipalities and the state to apply for grants to improve public safety and community climate resilience for coastal habitats, as well as river and stream floodplains.

Defines light duty, non-emergency and zero emission vehicles and requires the state to convert its fleet of vehicles to no less than fifty percent (50%) of vehicles in those categories by the year 2029

Authorizes the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, to appoint an executive director of coastal resources management to act as a liaison to the director of the department of environmental management to plan and manage coastal resources

Requires parking lots to designate parking spaces for electric vehicles/installation of charging stations for new existing public/private parking lots with fines for parking violations/compliance. Effective 7/1/21.

Creates the "Plastic Waste Reduction Act" designed to reduce the use of plastic bags by retail establishments by offering recyclable bag options and providing penalties for violations.

Creates a refundable four cent ($0.04) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A ten cent ($0.10) handling fee would be paid by distributors.

Provides that any operational surplus of the Rhode Island resource recovery corporation shall be automatically transferred, on an annual basis, to a restricted receipt account for the sole purpose of waste management infrastructure.

Requires schools to comply with recycling and composting laws and promotes the donation of unspoiled nonperishable food by schools. Requires the use of share tables at all schools.

Exempts reusable bags not including paper or plastic bags from the state sales tax.

Defines light duty, non-emergency and zero emission vehicles and requires the state to convert its fleet of vehicles to no less than fifty percent (50%) of vehicles in those categories by the year 2029

Requires DOH to establish maximum contaminate levels of PFAS in drinking water and to set interim standards. Also requires DEM to set standards for PFAS in ground- and surface waters. Defines PFSA as hazardous substances.