Authorizes and empower the department of transportation to plant pollinator friendly native species of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants within limits of a roadway, including state highways.
Summary
H5099 amends Rhode Island’s highway beautification law to expressly authorize the Department of Transportation to plant pollinator-friendly native trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants within the limits of roadways, including state highways. The bill directs the department to use native species when appropriate and to seek input from apiarists, horticulturists, and other certified professionals to identify plant types and locations that would best support pollinators.
The measure also defines “pollinators” broadly to include insects such as bees that move pollen between flowers. In addition, it requires any DOT activities undertaken to benefit pollinators on roadsides and state highways to comply with federal law, specifically 23 U.S.C. 332. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.
Impact
The bill would modify § 24-8-11 of the Rhode Island General Laws, expanding the Department of Transportation’s existing authority to beautify roadsides by explicitly including pollinator-supporting native plantings. It would affect DOT landscaping and roadside maintenance practices, potentially influencing how highway right-of-way areas are designed and maintained, while leaving funding to existing highway-purpose appropriations. The bill also adds a federal compliance requirement for pollinator-related roadside activities.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be broadly positive and noncontroversial in purpose, reflecting support for environmental stewardship, habitat enhancement, and roadside beautification. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or divided sentiment in the available materials.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are practical rather than ideological: how the Department of Transportation would balance pollinator-friendly plantings with highway safety, maintenance needs, and federal roadside rules, and how much discretion the department should have in selecting species and locations. Another possible issue is the use of highway funds for landscaping and ecological purposes, though the bill limits spending to moneys already appropriated for highway purposes and not otherwise needed for roads and bridges.