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H 7991Water Resources

Waters and Navigation - Coastal Resilience - Nature- Based Solutions for Erosion Control, Water Resource Management, and Expedited Permitting

This legislation speeds up the government approval process for eco-friendly projects that use nature to prevent erosion and flooding.

Held for study
Population
Affected
72
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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House State Government & Elections

Plain-English Summary

This bill establishes a state policy prioritizing "nature-based solutions"—such as living shorelines, wetland restoration, and green infrastructure—over traditional concrete structures for managing erosion and flooding. It directs the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to create an expedited permitting process for these projects. The legislation sets strict deadlines for government review: municipalities and agencies must check applications for completeness within 30 days and issue a final decision within 90 days. The goal is to speed up the construction of natural defenses against climate change impacts.

For younger readers

This new rule helps protect the ocean and the land by using nature instead of big concrete walls. It encourages people to use things like plants, sand dunes, and marshes to stop water from washing the land away. The rule tells the government workers who approve these projects that they have to work faster. They have a strict time limit to say "yes" or "no" to people who want to build these natural protectors. This helps keep homes and beaches safe from storms and rising water in a way that is good for animals and the environment.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Coastal property ownersMunicipal planning departmentsEnvironmental engineering firmsDepartment of Environmental Management (DEM)Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC)
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Codifies a preference for sustainable, ecological approaches to climate resilience, moving away from environmentally damaging hard infrastructure like sea walls.
  • Promotes climate justice by accelerating projects that protect communities—potentially including vulnerable populations—from the immediate threats of rising sea levels and erosion.
  • Enhances government efficiency by streamlining the permitting process, ensuring that critical environmental restoration projects are not stalled by bureaucratic delays.
  • The strict 90-day approval deadline may reduce the time available for thorough environmental review and public comment, potentially allowing developers to bypass necessary scrutiny.
  • Overrides local municipal authority by imposing state-mandated timelines on town planning boards, which undermines community control over local land use and development.
  • Prioritizing expedited permitting for coastal resilience may disproportionately benefit wealthy coastal property owners while diverting administrative resources from other environmental justice concerns.
For Conservatives
  • Reduces bureaucratic red tape by imposing strict deadlines on government agencies and municipalities, preventing them from dragging out the permitting process indefinitely.
  • Strengthens property rights by allowing landowners to secure necessary permits for erosion control more quickly, enabling them to protect their assets from physical damage.
  • Encourages cost-effective solutions that utilize natural landscape features rather than requiring expensive, heavy engineering projects that often necessitate higher public spending.
  • Imposes heavy-handed state mandates on local municipalities, stripping towns of their autonomy to manage their own zoning and permitting schedules.
  • Expands the regulatory scope and authority of the Department of Environmental Management and the Coastal Resources Management Council, increasing the size and influence of the administrative state.
  • Mandates a specific type of engineering solution (nature-based) as a state policy, potentially limiting the freedom of property owners and engineers to choose the most effective method for their specific needs.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 60 additions

SECTION 1. Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(1) Nature-based solutions, including living shorelines, wetland restoration, floodplain reconnection, and green infrastructure, have been demonstrated to be proven, mature, and effective strategies for managing erosion, flooding, and other water resource challenges.

(2) The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) incorporates living shoreline principles in its regulatory programs, prioritizing natural erosion control methods that protect coastal ecosystems.

(3) The Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund supports projects that utilize nature-based solutions to enhance community and environmental resilience.

(4) Efficient, coordinated, and timely permitting is critical to advancing nature-based projects that address climate adaptation and resilience goals.

SECTION 2. Title 46 of the General Laws entitled "WATERS AND NAVIGATION" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 46-23.5-1. State policy on nature-based solutions for coastal resilience.

(a) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to encourage and prioritize the use of nature-based solutions as a preferred means of enhancing climate resilience, mitigating natural hazards, and protecting public health, safety, and welfare.

(b) Covered municipalities and relevant state agencies shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with existing law, consider nature-based solutions as preferred alternatives to solely structural or hard-engineered approaches when reviewing, approving, or funding projects subject to their jurisdiction. 46-23.5-2. Definitions. For purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Director" means the director of the department of environmental management (DEM).

(2) "Nature-based solution" means a project that uses, restores, or mimics natural processes to manage erosion, flooding, or water quality including, but not limited to, living shorelines, marsh restoration, floodplain reconnection, urban green infrastructure, dune restoration, and riparian buffers.

(3) "Qualifying project" means a nature-based solution certified by the director of the department of environment management, or designee, to meet criteria for ecological benefit, resilience enhancement, and alignment with state climate goals. 46-23.5-3. Integration with existing programs.

(a) Effective January 1, 2027, the department of environmental management (DEM) and the coastal resources management council (CRMC) in consultation with the chief resilience officer

(CRO) designated pursuant to § 46-23.4-2, shall update its rules, regulations and permitting criteria to prioritize nature-based solutions and incorporate expedited review procedures for qualifying projects submitted pursuant to this chapter.

(b) The DEM, CRMC and any other relevant state agencies shall align their permitting and funding programs to support the expedited permitting process pursuant to this chapter.

(c) The ocean state climate adaptation and resilience fund shall, from funds appropriated pursuant to this chapter, allocate resources for project support, technical assistance, and monitoring of funded nature-based solutions approved pursuant to this chapter. 46-23.5-4. Coordination.

(a) The DEM in consultation with the CRMC and the office of the chief resilience officer

(CRO) shall serve as the central coordinating entity for expedited permitting of qualifying projects and shall:

(1) Accept applications for expedited review status;

(2) Coordinate review among involved municipal governments and state agencies including, but not limited to, the CRMC, DEM, and department of health;

(3) Facilitate pre-application consultation to identify and resolve potential permitting issues; and

(4) Track and report annually on expedited permitting activities to the governor and general assembly.

(b) Municipal and agency review deadlines for qualifying projects under this chapter.

(1) Municipalities to the extent applicable and any relevant state agencies shall provide an initial completeness determination or list of substantive deficiencies for qualifying projects within thirty (30) calendar days of receiving an application pursuant to this chapter.

(2) Municipalities to the extent applicable and any relevant agencies shall complete their permit decision (approval, conditional approval, or denial) within ninety (90) calendar days of receipt of a complete application.

(3) Municipalities and agencies shall work collaboratively to avoid duplicative review processes and coordinate public comment periods when practicable.

(c) Regulations and guidance. Municipalities and agencies involved in the permitting process for projects under this chapter shall adopt necessary regulations or guidance to implement this expedited permitting process by January 1, 2027. 46-23.5-5. Rules and regulations. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter. 46-23.5-6. Reporting. Effective January 1, 2027, the director shall submit an annual report by March 1, to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and president of the senate detailing all applications received and expedited permits issued, all project outcomes and ecological benefits, and any recommendations for statutory or regulatory improvements.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.