Requires radon testing within one year of any residential real estate transaction and the installation of a radon mitigation system if unsafe radon levels are present, at the seller's expense.

Rhode Island Radon Testing Bill – Plain English Summary

This bill would require that all homes involved in a residential real estate sale be tested for radon gas within one year of the transaction closing. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground and, at high levels, poses a serious health risk — it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Under this bill, if testing reveals radon levels that are considered unsafe, the seller would be required to pay for and install a radon mitigation system to reduce those levels before or shortly after the sale is completed.

The bill would primarily affect home sellers and buyers throughout Rhode Island. Sellers would take on a new financial responsibility, since they would be required to cover the cost of both testing and any necessary mitigation work if unsafe levels are found. Buyers would benefit from greater assurance that the home they are purchasing has been checked for this hidden health hazard. Real estate agents and home inspectors involved in residential transactions may also be affected, as radon testing would become a standard part of the sales process.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Corporations Committee and is scheduled for a hearing in February 2026, but the committee has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward toward a vote. The bill's current status suggests lawmakers are still reviewing its details, including questions about costs, enforcement, and how "unsafe radon levels" would be officially defined and measured under Rhode Island law.