Signed by Governor Dan McKee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the sale of rat poison in Rhode Island.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the sale of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in consumer and online retail stores, effective March 1, 2027 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the sale of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in consumer and online retail stores, effective January 1, 2028 (Sec. 2).

• Exempts sales by wholesalers to certified private applicators, commercial applicators, certified commercial applicators, or licensed commercial applicators from the previous prohibitions (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of any registered first or second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, effective January 1, 2029 (Sec. 2).

• Exempts state or municipal employees engaged in public health activities, medical waste generators, annually registered and inspected facilities, and those involved in agricultural activities from such prohibition (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that exempt agricultural activities must take place in the following locations (Sec. 2):

• A warehouse used to store foods for human or animal consumption;

• An agricultural food production site, including, but not limited to, a slaughterhouse or cannery; or

• A distillery, meadery, brewery, or winery.

• Authorizes municipalities to implement and participate in a voluntary pest management pilot program (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the program will involve (Sec. 3):

• Implementation in municipally designated rodent migration areas;

• Monthly municipal inspections by the designated department; and

• The tracking of all interventions in all pilot program mitigation areas by the designated municipal department.

• Requires all pilot programs to begin no later than July 1, 2027 (Sec. 3).

• Requires the director of each municipal department to submit a report about the outcomes of each pilot program to the mayor or town administrator no later than three months after its termination (Sec. 3).

• Establishes an integrated pest management fund to be administered by the department of environmental management (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department of environmental management to establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this Act shall expire on October 1, 2029 (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Sections 1 and 4 of the Act shall take effect upon passage, while Sections 2 and 3 shall take effect on January 1, 2027 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the sale of rat poison in Rhode Island.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the sale of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in consumer and online retail stores, effective March 1, 2027 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the sale of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in consumer and online retail stores, effective January 1, 2028 (Sec. 2).

• Exempts sales by wholesalers to certified private applicators, commercial applicators, certified commercial applicators, or licensed commercial applicators from the previous prohibitions (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of any registered first or second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, effective January 1, 2029 (Sec. 2).

• Exempts state or municipal employees engaged in public health activities, medical waste generators, annually registered and inspected facilities, and those involved in agricultural activities from such prohibition (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that exempt agricultural activities must take place in the following locations (Sec. 2):

• A warehouse used to store foods for human or animal consumption;

• An agricultural food production site, including, but not limited to, a slaughterhouse or cannery; or

• A distillery, meadery, brewery, or winery.

• Authorizes municipalities to implement and participate in a voluntary pest management pilot program (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the program will involve (Sec. 3):

• Implementation in municipally designated rodent migration areas;

• Monthly municipal inspections by the designated department; and

• The tracking of all interventions in all pilot program mitigation areas by the designated municipal department.

• Requires all pilot programs to begin no later than July 1, 2027 (Sec. 3).

• Requires the director of each municipal department to submit a report about the outcomes of each pilot program to the mayor or town administrator no later than three months after its termination (Sec. 3).

• Establishes an integrated pest management fund to be administered by the department of environmental management (Sec. 3).

• Requires the department of environmental management to establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this Act shall expire on October 1, 2029 (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that Sections 1 and 4 of the Act shall take effect upon passage, while Sections 2 and 3 shall take effect on January 1, 2027 (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text