Watch List - 2021

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

This bill would establish the Transportation Emission and Mobile (TEAM) Community Act. It is intended to limit and reduce indirect carbon dioxide emissions throughout the state while promoting the purposes of the transportation climate initiative program.

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

Amends the compliance standards for heating oil biobased products providing minimum standards for the percentage of biobased product that certain types of heating oil must contain.

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.

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 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.

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.

Establishes a statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction mandate.)

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 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.

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

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.

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.

Prohibits the release of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gas

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.

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

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 the department of environmental management to create environmental justice areas.

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

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

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 ten cent ($0.10) deposit for non-reusable beverage containers. A four cents ($0.04) 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.

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.

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

Increases membership from 3 to 5 members/revises siting process to mandate public/municipal participation

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

Establishes a fee on companies that sell fossil fuels in Rhode Island and establishes a fund to disburse the collected funds

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