Requires 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 of Rhode Island Bill: Pollinator-Friendly Plantings Along State Roads

This bill would require the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to plant trees, shrubs, grasses, and other plants that are native to the region and beneficial to pollinators — such as bees, butterflies, and other insects — within the areas alongside roadways, including state highways. Essentially, whenever the department is planting or maintaining vegetation along roads, it would need to choose species that naturally grow in Rhode Island and support pollinator populations.

The bill is aimed at addressing concerns about declining pollinator populations, which play a critical role in agriculture and natural ecosystems by helping plants reproduce. By using native species rather than non-native or purely ornamental plants, the legislation seeks to create habitats along roadways that support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators while also potentially reducing maintenance costs, since native plants are generally better adapted to local soil and climate conditions.

This bill would primarily affect the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and how it manages roadside landscaping. It could also indirectly benefit farmers, gardeners, and anyone who depends on healthy pollinator populations for food production and a thriving natural environment. The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which has recommended holding it for further study, with a hearing or consideration scheduled for January 2026.