The Old Growth Forest Protection Act would create the first state laws to protect forests and biodiversity on public land. This includes prohibiting logging of Old Growth forests on state-owned and municipal-owned land, prohibiting clear cutting on state-owned land, creating a functional natural areas preserve system to protect Natural Heritage Areas, requiring environmental review before state logging operations, and bringing back the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program.

History of the Bill

This bill was introduced as the Old Growth Forest Preservation Act by Representative David Bennett, Chairman of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and Michael McCaffrey, Senate Majority Leader, in 2022 as the Old Growth Forest Protection Act. It was introduced again in 2023 by Representative Evan Shanley, Chair of the House State Government and Elections Committee, and co-sponsored by Rep. Bennett. Rep. Shanley reintroduced the bill in 2024 with Senator Mark McKenney, Chair of the Senate Rules, Government Ethics, and Oversight Committee. Climate Action Rhode Island (CARI) also endorsed the bill that year. In 2025, Rep. Shanley introduced the bill again to the House, while Senator Robert Britto, Vice Chair of the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee, will introduce it in the Senate.

Read the bill here.