# Rhode Island H7342: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL . Rhode Island H7342, AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Lauren H. Carson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-18 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 135) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7342-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7342 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-28 - Last action: 2026-06-18, Signed by Governor — Chapter 135 - Sponsor: Lauren H. Carson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (60 yes, 9 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More school food donations with protections: benefit, medium. School food contracts must require vendors to donate unserved nonperishables and safe perishables to local food banks. Donations must follow Department of Health guidance. Donors and food banks are immune from civil lawsuits for good-faith donations, except for gross negligence or intentional harm.… - School sharing tables for safe food: benefit, low. Schools may set up sharing tables in cafeterias approved by the Department of Health. Allowed items include unopened, shelf-stable packages; wrapped produce with intact peel; and certain cold, prepackaged perishables. Unopened milk must stay at 41°F or below. Unclaimed items may be donated to food… - Yearly lessons on litter and recycling: benefit, low. RIDE, with RIRRC, provides a yearly lesson on litter prevention, reducing and reusing, and recycling. Every public school uses it to teach all students each year. - Schools must recycle food waste: cost, high. From January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2029, schools that generate at least 30 tons of organics a year and are within 15 miles of an authorized facility must recycle those materials. Beginning January 1, 2029, all educational entities must recycle organic waste, regardless of distance. A waiver may app… - Vendors must report donations or pay: cost, medium. Food vendors must file a yearly report to RIDE showing amounts donated and any tax deductions or credits claimed. RIDE publishes this information online. Vendors who fail to report pay $1,000 per violation and are barred from future school food bids until they comply. - Local buying and vendor recycling rules: mixed, medium. Schools and the education department may use only food vendors who recycle organic waste at an authorized composting or anaerobic digestion facility, or another approved method. Bids should encourage at least 10% of purchases from Rhode Island suppliers. Vendors that do not comply cannot bid on new… - Regular school waste audits and transparency: mixed, medium. Starting January 1, 2022, every educational entity works with RIRRC on a free waste audit every three years. Audits identify recyclables and compostables and recommend ways to reduce waste. Starting January 1, 2027, schools send audit results to RIDE, and RIDE publishes them online. RIDE must issue… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Lauren H. Carson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Boylan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Julie A. Casimiro (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terri Cortvriend (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Megan L. Cotter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kathleen A. Fogarty (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michelle E. McGaw (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: June Speakman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tina L. Spears (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Teresa A. Tanzi (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-14 | House | SCHOOL WASTE AND REFUSE DISPOSAL PASSAGE | pass | 60 | 9 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-06-18: Signed by Governor — Chapter 135 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-02: Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence - 2026-05-29: Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2026) - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture (Senate) - 2026-04-14: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-04-10: Placed on House Calendar (04/14/2026) (House) - 2026-04-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-04-06: Proposed Substitute - 2026-04-06: Scheduled for consideration (04/09/2026) - 2026-02-10: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-02-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/10/2026) - 2026-01-28: Introduced, referred to House Education (House) ## Bill text - H7342 - As Introduced, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342.pdf) - H7342 - Substitute, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342A.pdf) ## Related bills - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H7342 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342.htm) - [H7342 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342.pdf) - [H7342 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342A.htm) - [H7342 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7342A.pdf) ## Related - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026) - [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026) - [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026) - [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7342-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).