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S 2201Emergency Management

Military Affairs and Defense - Emergency Management

Updates emergency definitions to include bioterrorism and requires the state to help businesses access federal flood insurance.

Held for study
Population
Affected
45
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee Senate Commerce

Plain-English Summary

This legislation updates the Rhode Island Emergency Management Act. It adds specific definitions for "bioterrorism" and the "Director" of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency to the existing law. Furthermore, it mandates that the Director, in collaboration with the commerce commission, create and put into effect a plan to help businesses in the state secure flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. This aims to improve disaster readiness and financial protection for businesses against flood damage.

For younger readers

This law changes some rules about how the state gets ready for big emergencies. First, it explains exactly what "bioterrorism" means, which is when bad germs are used to hurt people or animals. Second, it tells the state leaders that they need to make a plan to help business owners protect their buildings from floods. This plan involves helping businesses sign up for special insurance that pays for repairs if water floods their shops or offices.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Business OwnersRhode Island Emergency Management AgencyCommerce CommissionCommercial Property OwnersInsurance Providers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Supports small business stability and local economies by helping them access necessary financial protection against climate-related disasters like flooding.
  • Enhances public safety and community welfare by formally recognizing and defining bioterrorism within the state's emergency management framework.
  • Promotes government intervention to assist vulnerable entities in navigating complex federal insurance systems, ensuring better access to the social safety net.
  • Focuses exclusively on assisting businesses with flood insurance, neglecting homeowners and renters who are equally vulnerable to climate change and flooding.
  • Relies on the National Flood Insurance Program, which some critics argue encourages development in environmentally sensitive and high-risk areas.
  • Allocates state administrative resources to protect private capital and property owners rather than direct community aid or infrastructure improvements.
For Conservatives
  • Prioritizes the protection of businesses and commerce, helping to ensure economic continuity in the face of natural disasters.
  • Strengthens national security and law and order measures by codifying a clear definition of bioterrorism in state law.
  • Utilizes an existing federal framework (National Flood Insurance Program) rather than creating a new, expensive state-funded insurance entitlement program.
  • Expands the scope of government bureaucracy by mandating state agencies to intervene in the private insurance market.
  • Increases state reliance on federal government programs, further entangling Rhode Island with federal oversight and regulations.
  • Uses taxpayer-funded administrative time and resources to perform a service that private insurance brokers could handle independently.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 8 additions · 3 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 30-15-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-15 entitled "Emergency Management" is hereby amended to read as follows: 30-15-3. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) “Bioterrorism” means the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant or other living organism;

(2) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency; (2)(3) “Disaster” means occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including, but not limited to:

(i) Fire;

(ii) Flood;

(iii) Earthquake;

(iv) Wind, storm, wave action, oil spill, or other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage;

(v) Volcanic activity;

(vi) Epidemic;

(vii) Air contamination;

(viii) Blight;

(ix) Drought;

(x) Infestation;

(xi) Explosion;

(xii) Riots;

(xiii) Hostile military or paramilitary action;

(xiv) Endangerment of the health, safety, or resources of the people of the state;

(xv) Acts of bioterrorism; (3)(4) “Political subdivision” means any city or town in Rhode Island; and (4)(5) “Unorganized militia” means all able-bodied persons between the ages of sixteen

(16) and fifty (50) years.

SECTION 2. Chapter 30-15 of the General Laws entitled "Emergency Management" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 30-15-5.1. Flood insurance. The director and the commerce commission shall develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.