by Jed Thorp, Director of Advocacy
The Rhode Island General Assembly’s 2026 Legislative Session opened on January 6. Save The Bay will once again work to advance legislation that improves Narragansett Bay and defends the Bay against legislation that could cause harm. Every year at the State House is unique, and 2026 will be no exception. A potentially hotly contested race for Governor, along with all 113 House and Senate seats being up for re-election and with uncertainty regarding federal funding for a variety of important state programs, will create both challenges and opportunities. Here are some of the issues Save The Bay will be focused on this year:
Reforming CRMC
For years, Save The Bay and our allies have advocated for eliminating the politically-appointed council that regulates Rhode Island’s coastal resources. Recent court rulings overturning poor CRMC decisions, along with the ongoing lack of enforcement or accountability for the illegal rock wall constructed by Quidnessett Country Club along the shoreline in North Kingstown, have amplified the calls for meaningful reform. Last year, the General Assembly recognized that another year of inaction on CRMC reform would be unacceptable. Unfortunately, the legislation they ultimately passed made minimal changes and left the politically-appointed Council intact. Further reform is needed.
This year, Save The Bay will advocate for CRMC to be merged with the Department of Environmental Management by creating a new Bureau of Coastal Resources within DEM. This change would eliminate the politically-appointed and dysfunctional Council, create efficiencies by bringing coastal resources under the same umbrella as Rhode Island’s other environmental enforcement and permitting programs, and align the state with most other coastal states in how our shoreline is regulated and managed.
Tackling Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution continues to be a growing problem in Narragansett Bay and throughout the watershed. During last year’s International Coastal Cleanup season, over 24,000 beverage containers and caps were collected from Rhode Island’s shoreline, in addition to over 14,000 small plastic or foam pieces. A special legislative study commission – on which Save The Bay served – spent 18 months examining the problem of bottle litter and possible solutions. That commission issued a final report last April recommending that Rhode Island join neighboring states in adopting a deposit return system for beverage containers, also known as a “bottle bill.”
A revised bottle bill, reflecting the study commission’s recommendation, was introduced shortly after the commission’s final report was issued. But legislative leaders were not comfortable enough with the bill’s details to pass it as introduced. Instead, a version was passed that directs the Department of Environmental Management to conduct a detailed analysis of what it would take to successfully implement a bottle deposit program, with a final report to be issued by December 2026. A bottle bill will most likely be introduced again this year. Save The Bay will work with our allies to educate legislators on how such a system would work and build support among stakeholders and the general public to help us convince the Assembly to finally get a bottle bill across the finish line.
State Budget and Green Bond
Ensuring that our environmental agencies are properly funded and staffed is always a top priority for Save The Bay. With CRMC and DEM receiving roughly a third and a quarter of their budgets, respectively, from federal funds, it may be an especially challenging year as potential reductions in federal funding loom large over the state budget. In addition to advocating for funding for DEM and CRMC – particularly for enforcement – Save The Bay will also be advocating for the budget to include a “green bond” to be put before the voters in November. Past green bonds have been approved with strong public support and have provided critical funding for climate resilience, clean water and open space – all of which are priorities for Save The Bay.
Make Your Voice Heard!
While we’re ready to jump into action this session, we can’t make progress alone! You can help us achieve these legislative priorities by signing up for our Action Alerts, which provide important updates and easy-to-use guidance on communicating with your elected officials. We hope you’ll join us by using your voice to protect Narragansett Bay!