Rhode Island Senate Bill S2425

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/26
• Refer: 1/30/26

Caption

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE, ROADS

Summary

S2425 amends Rhode Island law governing the construction and maintenance of state roads to expressly authorize the Department of Transportation to plant trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses, and other vegetation within roadway limits, including state highways, as part of roadside beautification. The bill specifically directs that plantings include pollinator-friendly native species when appropriate and allows the department to use highway-purpose funds not otherwise needed for road and bridge construction, reconstruction, or maintenance. The measure also requires the Department of Transportation to seek input from apiarists, horticulturists, and other certified professionals when identifying suitable plants and locations that benefit pollinators. It defines “pollinators” broadly to include insects such as bees that move pollen between flowers. In addition, any pollinator-related roadside activities must be consistent with federal best practices under 23 U.S.C. 332. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

Impact

This bill would update § 24-8-11 of the Rhode Island General Laws to add an explicit pollinator-focused component to the state’s roadside beautification authority. It would not create a new program so much as expand and clarify the Department of Transportation’s existing power to landscape highway rights-of-way, while tying that work to native species selection and federal pollinator guidance. The practical effect would be to influence DOT landscaping standards, species selection, and consultation practices for state roads and highways, with potential benefits for pollinator habitat and roadside ecology.

Sentiment

There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal debate or roll-call sentiment is available. Based on the bill text and sponsor list, the measure appears to be a straightforward, environmentally oriented proposal with a likely favorable policy framing around pollinator support, native plantings, and roadside beautification. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments suggests no documented controversy in the available record.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of discussion, if raised, could include the cost and maintenance implications of native plantings, whether roadside vegetation could affect visibility or safety, and how much discretion the Department of Transportation should have in selecting species and locations. Another possible issue is the extent to which the bill’s pollinator requirements should be aligned with federal standards under 23 U.S.C. 332, but no stakeholder objections are recorded here.