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H 8467Pollution & Waste

State Affairs and Government - Lead Hazard Mitigation

This bill creates strict lead safety, training, and registration requirements for renovating buildings built before 1978.

Held for study
Population
Affected
25
Email Legislator
Introduced Apr 17, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This bill establishes new rules for renovating mills or other buildings constructed before 1978. Anyone performing these renovations must follow state lead poisoning prevention and hazardous substance laws. They must register the project with the Department of Labor and Training (DLT) before starting, hire a certified lead contractor, ensure all workers have at least 24 hours of lead safety training, and have a lead work supervisor on-site for at least 40 hours a week. The DLT is given the authority to enforce these standards.

For younger readers

This bill makes new rules for fixing up old buildings built before 1978. Since old buildings often have lead paint, which can make people sick, the builders have to follow special safety steps. They must tell the state government before they start working. The workers have to take 24 hours of special classes to learn how to handle lead safely. Also, a boss who knows all about lead safety must be at the building watching the work for at least 40 hours every week.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Construction workersProperty developersBuilding contractorsLead work supervisorsOwners of pre-1978 buildings
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Protects workers from hazardous lead exposure by mandating 24 hours of specialized training and requiring an on-site supervisor.
  • Safeguards the health of communities, especially in areas with older affordable housing or repurposed mills, by preventing lead poisoning during renovations.
  • Strengthens regulatory oversight and accountability by requiring project registration with the Department of Labor and Training and explicitly preserving private causes of action.
  • The strict requirements and mandated 40-hour supervisor presence could significantly increase the cost of renovating older buildings, potentially slowing down the creation of affordable housing.
  • Small, minority-owned, or low-income contracting businesses might struggle to afford the 24-hour training and certification requirements, potentially excluding them from participating in these renovation projects.
  • Focuses primarily on penalizing non-compliance without providing state funding or subsidies to help low-income property owners comply with these costly new safety measures.
For Conservatives
  • Ensures a level playing field for businesses by establishing clear, uniform safety standards that all contractors renovating older buildings must follow.
  • Protects private property owners from future liabilities by ensuring that contractors use trained workers and proper supervision to prevent hazardous lead contamination during renovations.
  • Explicitly preserves private causes of action, allowing individuals to resolve disputes through the court system rather than relying solely on government agency intervention.
  • Imposes heavy regulatory burdens on businesses by mandating project registration, 24 hours of worker training, and requiring a supervisor on-site for 40 hours a week.
  • Increases costs and limits corporate freedom for property developers and construction firms, which could discourage private investment in renovating old mills and commercial buildings.
  • Expands the power and oversight of the Department of Labor and Training, growing the size and scope of government bureaucracy in the private construction sector.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 19 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 42-128.1 of the General Laws entitled "Lead Hazard Mitigation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 42-128.1-15. Lead hazard mitigation in building renovations.

(a) Any mill or other building built before the year 1978 that is being renovated for housing, offices or any other purpose shall comply with the provisions of chapter 24.6 of title 23 ("lead poisoning prevention act") and chapter 21 of title 28 ("hazardous substances right-to-know act").

(b) Any person or firm performing any renovation project referenced in subsection (a) of this section, shall register the project with the department of labor and training (DLT) prior to beginning any work.

(c) Any person or firm performing any renovation project referenced in subsection (a) of this section, shall be or have engaged, a lead contractor as that term is defined in § 23-24.6-4.

(d) Any employee of the person or firm performing any renovation project referenced in subsection (a) of this section, shall be required to have a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours of lead worker training in compliance with § 28-21-9.

(e) Any person or firm performing any renovation project referenced in subsection (a) of this section shall have a lead work supervisor present and on site for a minimum of forty (40) hours per week.

(f) DLT shall have authority to enforce all lead standards and ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with chapter 24.6 of title 23 and chapter 21 of title 28.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the enforcement powers of the attorney general or of any private cause of action authorized by law.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.