Establishes the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents.

Rhode Island Orange Heart Medal Bill

This bill would create a new state military medal called the "Rhode Island Orange Heart Medal." The medal would be awarded to Rhode Island veterans who were exposed to harmful substances during their military service, including toxic herbicides like Agent Orange, smoke from burn pits, or other hazardous materials. The goal is to formally acknowledge the sacrifices and health risks these veterans faced as a result of their service.

The bill would affect Rhode Island veterans — and potentially their surviving family members — who experienced these kinds of toxic exposures while serving in the military. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War era, as well as more recent veterans who worked near burn pits in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, would be among those potentially eligible to receive this recognition.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs Committee. The committee has recommended holding the bill for further study, meaning lawmakers want more time to review the details before moving it forward. A hearing is scheduled for March 2026. No final decisions have been made yet, and the bill has not become law.