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H 7618Conservation

Agriculture and Forestry - Protection of Trees and Plants Generally

This bill increases fines for damaging protected trees and requires planting more replacement trees when violations occur.

Held for study
Population
Affected
35
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Environment and Natural Resources

Plain-English Summary

This bill updates existing state laws regarding the protection of trees. It formally recognizes the environmental and social benefits of trees, such as improving air quality and reducing flooding. The legislation increases the financial penalties for individuals or companies that illegally damage or remove protected trees, raising the fines to a range of $200 to $1,000 per offense. Furthermore, if the Department of Environmental Management orders replacement trees for a violation, the total size of the new trees must now be three times the size of the damaged tree, an increase from the previous requirement of two times.

For younger readers

This new rule is all about protecting trees. Trees are important because they clean the air we breathe and help keep our neighborhoods cool. The law says that if someone hurts or cuts down a tree they are not supposed to, they will have to pay more money as a punishment than they did before. Also, if they destroy a tree, they have to plant new trees to fix the mistake. Now, they will have to plant even more new trees to make up for the one they lost.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
LandscapersProperty DevelopersHomeownersDepartment of Environmental ManagementConstruction Companies
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
$200-$1,000 per offense

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Strengthens environmental protections by discouraging tree removal, which helps combat climate change, improves air quality, and mitigates the "urban heat island" effect that often disproportionately impacts lower-income urban communities.
  • Increases corporate accountability by raising fines and replacement requirements, ensuring that developers and businesses cannot simply treat low environmental penalties as a minor cost of doing business.
  • Promotes community welfare and public health by preserving green spaces that are essential for mental well-being and flood prevention in vulnerable neighborhoods.
  • The increase in monetary fines could disproportionately impact low-income homeowners who make a mistake regarding tree removal, while remaining negligible for wealthy corporations.
  • Relies on reactive enforcement and fines rather than proactive investment in public green spaces or systemic forestry management reform.
  • Does not explicitly direct the revenue generated from these increased fines toward environmental justice programs or tree planting in underserved communities.
For Conservatives
  • Protects property values and neighborhood aesthetics by deterring the unauthorized destruction of trees that contribute to the desirability of a community.
  • Upholds the rule of law by ensuring that those who violate established property and environmental statutes face appropriate consequences for their actions.
  • Helps prevent flooding and soil erosion naturally, potentially reducing the need for tax-funded infrastructure projects to manage stormwater.
  • Increases government regulation and financial burdens on private property owners and businesses by raising fines and mandating more expensive restitution requirements.
  • Expands the authority of the Department of Environmental Management to dictate landscaping and property management decisions to private citizens.
  • The requirement to plant replacement trees totaling three times the diameter of the removed tree could be viewed as an excessive and costly penalty that infringes on property rights.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 5 additions · 3 deletions

SECTION 1. Legislative findings.

(1) Trees filter pollutants from the air and water, improving air and water quality.

(2) Trees provide shade, which helps cool down urban areas and reduce the "urban heat island effect."

(3) Trees store carbon, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

(4) Trees improve soil water retention and reduce the risk of flooding by absorbing excess rainfall.

(5) Trees can reduce energy costs for cooling buildings by providing shade and reducing the need for air conditioning.

(6) Trees also provide social benefits, including public health, wildlife habitat and community wellbeing.

SECTION 2. Section 2-15-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 2-15 entitled "Protection of Trees and Plants Generally" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2-15-11. Penalty for violations of §§ 2-15-6, 2-15-8, 2-15-9, and 2-15-10.

(a) Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of §§ 2-15-6, 2-15-8, 2-15-9, or 2-15-10, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense.

(b) The director of the department of environmental management has the authority to order anyone convicted of violating § 2-15-8 or any governmental entity which the director determines violated § 2-15-8 to plant a replacement tree or trees, the sum of the diameters of which are equal to twice three (3) times that removed or damaged, in the immediate vicinity of the tree removed.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.