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 every home involved in a residential real estate sale be tested for radon gas within one year of the transaction closing. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless gas that can seep into homes from the ground and has been linked to lung cancer with long-term exposure. If testing reveals radon levels above what is considered safe, the seller would be required to pay for and install a radon mitigation system — essentially a ventilation system designed to reduce radon levels in the home.

The bill directly affects homebuyers and home sellers in Rhode Island. Sellers would take on the financial responsibility of both the 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 health hazard and remediated if needed. The requirement would apply broadly to residential real estate transactions, meaning it would cover most standard home sales across the state.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee. The committee has recommended it be held for further study, and it is scheduled for a hearing in March 2026. This means the bill has not yet passed and is still in the early stages of the legislative process, with lawmakers continuing to review and evaluate its details before deciding whether to move it forward.