Bill Sponsors
Boylan, Cortvriend, Speakman, Fogarty, McGaw, Kislak, Carson, Bennett, Spears, and Handy
Committee
House Environment and Natural Resources
Summary
Select
This legislation mandates that the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) establish a system to track the life cycle of artificial turf fields larger than 5,000 square feet. Owners or "custodians" of such fields must report detailed information regarding the installation, including the manufacturer, materials used, and location, by January 1, 2027, or within 30 days of installation. Furthermore, if the turf is removed, the new custodian must report its destination and method of disposal or reuse. The DEM is required to maintain this data on a publicly accessible website. Violations can result in fines up to $5,000.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Promotes environmental justice by ensuring potentially hazardous materials in artificial turf are tracked, preventing them from being quietly dumped in vulnerable communities.
- Increases corporate accountability by requiring producers and custodians to be transparent about the composition and disposal of synthetic materials used in public and private spaces.
- Enhances public health safety by creating a public database, allowing communities to know exactly what materials are in the fields their children play on and ensuring proper end-of-life disposal.
Cons for Progressives
- Focuses merely on tracking the movement of these materials rather than banning or restricting the use of artificial turf, which many progressives view as environmentally harmful.
- The maximum penalty of $5,000 may be viewed as a trivial "cost of doing business" for wealthy institutions or corporations, rather than a true deterrent against improper disposal.
- Places an administrative burden on the Department of Environmental Management without explicitly allocating new funding, potentially straining an agency vital for other environmental protections.
Pros for Conservatives
- Protects property rights and local land values by deterring the illegal dumping of massive amounts of industrial waste (old turf) on private land or in unauthorized areas.
- Ensures that consumers (schools and towns) receive accountability from vendors by requiring detailed reporting on the brand and composition of materials installed by contractors.
- Provides transparency regarding public spending on municipal facilities, allowing taxpayers to see exactly where their money is going regarding field installation and disposal.
Cons for Conservatives
- Expands the size and scope of state government by creating a new tracking database and requiring the Department of Environmental Management to monitor more private activity.
- Imposes burdensome reporting regulations on private athletic clubs, private schools, and businesses, interfering with the free market and adding red tape.
- Creates a pathway for the government to levy fines against private entities for administrative errors or paperwork issues regarding the management of their own property.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Public and Private Schools
- Colleges and Universities
- Municipalities
- Private Athletic Clubs
- Artificial Turf Manufacturers and Installers
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Purpose and findings.
The purpose of this act is to require: (1) The department of environment management ("department") to establish a system to track the chain of custody of artificial turf installed on sports and playing fields in the state; (2) The custodian of artificial turf sports or playing field installed in the state to report chain of custody information to the department on or before a certain date or within a certain amount of time after the completion of the installation, whichever is later; (3) The new custodian of artificial turf that was removed after the chain of custody information was reported to the department under this act to report updated chain of custody information to the department; (4) The department to serve as the custodian for chain of custody information submitted under this act and develop and maintain a website that includes certain chain of custody information.
SECTION 2. Chapter 42-17.2 of the General Laws entitled "Ski Tramways" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
42-17.2-47. Environment -- Artificial turf -- Chain of custody.
(a) Definitions. When used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Artificial turf" has the same meaning as defined in § 23-18.18-3 and that:
(i) Is intended to have, or incidentally has, an appearance that mimics grass;
(ii) Functions as a replacement for grass;
(iii) Has the primary purpose of being used as an indoor or outdoor sports or playing field;
(iv) Is at least five thousand square feet (5,000 ft2) in size; and
(v) Includes shock pads and turf infill.
(2) "Custodian" means a person who owns or is in control of artificial turf in the state or any current or subsequent owner of a property on which there is existing artificial turf. Custodians may also include those in control of charter schools, daycare centers, colleges and universities, municipal athletic facilities, private athletic clubs, or other facilities where artificial turf is used.
(3) "Department" means the department of environmental management.
(4) "Producer" means a person who owns or licenses a trademark or brand under which artificial turf is sold, offered for sale, distributed, or offered for promotional purposes in the state; or imports artificial turf into the state for sale or distribution.
(5) "Turf infill" means a material that:
(i) Is poured on top of artificial turf to hold artificial turf blades in place;
(ii) Weighs down the artificial turf in order that it does not develop wrinkles or buckle;
(iii) Mimics the impact absorption properties of soil under natural grass; and
(iv) Includes shredded or granulated tire, rubber, silica sand, or other material that is used as infill on artificial turf.
(b) The department shall establish a system to track the chain of custody of artificial turf installed on sports and playing fields in the state, from the transportation, installation, and removal of the artificial turf to its reuse, recycling, and final disposal.
(c) On or before January 1, 2027, or within thirty (30) days after the completion of the installation, whichever is later, the custodian of artificial turf sports or playing field installed in the state, including a replacement or brand new artificial turf sports or playing field, shall report to the department the following information:
(1) The geographic location and street address of the installed artificial turf;
(2) The name, address, and contact information of:
(i) The custodian of the artificial turf;
(ii) The producer of the artificial turf; and
(iii) The business or contractor that installed the artificial turf;
(3) The type and brand of artificial turf installed, to include detailed information on the composition of the infill and whether the turf is indoors or outdoors;
(4) The area of the artificial turf in square feet;
(5) The weight of the artificial turf; LC003978 - Page 2 of 5
(6) The date the artificial turf was installed;
(7) The distance to and name of the nearest down gradient surface body of water; and
(8) Any other information required by the department.
(d)(1) Except as provided in subsection (d)(2) of this section, if the artificial turf is removed after the chain of custody information is reported to the department under subsection (b) of this section, the new custodian of the artificial turf shall report to the department:
(i) The new geographic location and street address of the artificial turf;
(ii) The name, address, and contact information of:
(A) The transporter of the artificial turf; and
(B) The new custodian of the artificial turf;
(iii) The area of the artificial turf in square feet;
(iv) To the extent practicable, the weight of the artificial turf;
(v) How the artificial turf is used at the new location, including whether the artificial turf is recycled, processed for final disposal, or used to refurbish or replace a sports or playing field;
(vi) If the artificial turf is installed at a sports or playing field, the date of installation; and
(vii) Any other information reasonably related to the chain of custody of artificial turf, as required by the department.
(2) A new custodian of artificial turf that transports the artificial turf for use or disposal out-of-state shall report to the department the information required under subsections (d)(1)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (vii) of this section.
(e) Chain of custody information shall be:
(1) Reported in writing to the department; and
(2) In a form required by the department.
(f) A custodian shall not be penalized for variation in the weight totals reported under subsection (d) of this section.
(g) The department shall:
(1) Serve as the repository for the chain of custody information submitted under this section; and
(2) Maintain the chain of custody information permanently; and
(3) Develop and maintain a publicly accessible website on or before July 1, 2028, that includes:
(i) The chain of custody information submitted to the department under this section; and
(ii) The names and contact information of each custodian that provided the chain of custody information. LC003978 - Page 3 of 5
(h)(1) With regard to violations subject to subsection (c) of this section, a person that violates the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2) A penalty shall not be imposed under this section unless a person is first issued a written notice of violation.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
The purpose of this act is to require: (1) The department of environment management ("department") to establish a system to track the chain of custody of artificial turf installed on sports and playing fields in the state; (2) The custodian of artificial turf sports or playing field installed in the state to report chain of custody information to the department on or before a certain date or within a certain amount of time after the completion of the installation, whichever is later; (3) The new custodian of artificial turf that was removed after the chain of custody information was reported to the department under this act to report updated chain of custody information to the department; (4) The department to serve as the custodian for chain of custody information submitted under this act and develop and maintain a website that includes certain chain of custody information.
SECTION 2. Chapter 42-17.2 of the General Laws entitled "Ski Tramways" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
42-17.2-47. Environment -- Artificial turf -- Chain of custody.
(a) Definitions. When used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Artificial turf" has the same meaning as defined in § 23-18.18-3 and that:
(i) Is intended to have, or incidentally has, an appearance that mimics grass;
(ii) Functions as a replacement for grass;
(iii) Has the primary purpose of being used as an indoor or outdoor sports or playing field;
(iv) Is at least five thousand square feet (5,000 ft2) in size; and
(v) Includes shock pads and turf infill.
(2) "Custodian" means a person who owns or is in control of artificial turf in the state or any current or subsequent owner of a property on which there is existing artificial turf. Custodians may also include those in control of charter schools, daycare centers, colleges and universities, municipal athletic facilities, private athletic clubs, or other facilities where artificial turf is used.
(3) "Department" means the department of environmental management.
(4) "Producer" means a person who owns or licenses a trademark or brand under which artificial turf is sold, offered for sale, distributed, or offered for promotional purposes in the state; or imports artificial turf into the state for sale or distribution.
(5) "Turf infill" means a material that:
(i) Is poured on top of artificial turf to hold artificial turf blades in place;
(ii) Weighs down the artificial turf in order that it does not develop wrinkles or buckle;
(iii) Mimics the impact absorption properties of soil under natural grass; and
(iv) Includes shredded or granulated tire, rubber, silica sand, or other material that is used as infill on artificial turf.
(b) The department shall establish a system to track the chain of custody of artificial turf installed on sports and playing fields in the state, from the transportation, installation, and removal of the artificial turf to its reuse, recycling, and final disposal.
(c) On or before January 1, 2027, or within thirty (30) days after the completion of the installation, whichever is later, the custodian of artificial turf sports or playing field installed in the state, including a replacement or brand new artificial turf sports or playing field, shall report to the department the following information:
(1) The geographic location and street address of the installed artificial turf;
(2) The name, address, and contact information of:
(i) The custodian of the artificial turf;
(ii) The producer of the artificial turf; and
(iii) The business or contractor that installed the artificial turf;
(3) The type and brand of artificial turf installed, to include detailed information on the composition of the infill and whether the turf is indoors or outdoors;
(4) The area of the artificial turf in square feet;
(5) The weight of the artificial turf; LC003978 - Page 2 of 5
(6) The date the artificial turf was installed;
(7) The distance to and name of the nearest down gradient surface body of water; and
(8) Any other information required by the department.
(d)(1) Except as provided in subsection (d)(2) of this section, if the artificial turf is removed after the chain of custody information is reported to the department under subsection (b) of this section, the new custodian of the artificial turf shall report to the department:
(i) The new geographic location and street address of the artificial turf;
(ii) The name, address, and contact information of:
(A) The transporter of the artificial turf; and
(B) The new custodian of the artificial turf;
(iii) The area of the artificial turf in square feet;
(iv) To the extent practicable, the weight of the artificial turf;
(v) How the artificial turf is used at the new location, including whether the artificial turf is recycled, processed for final disposal, or used to refurbish or replace a sports or playing field;
(vi) If the artificial turf is installed at a sports or playing field, the date of installation; and
(vii) Any other information reasonably related to the chain of custody of artificial turf, as required by the department.
(2) A new custodian of artificial turf that transports the artificial turf for use or disposal out-of-state shall report to the department the information required under subsections (d)(1)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (vii) of this section.
(e) Chain of custody information shall be:
(1) Reported in writing to the department; and
(2) In a form required by the department.
(f) A custodian shall not be penalized for variation in the weight totals reported under subsection (d) of this section.
(g) The department shall:
(1) Serve as the repository for the chain of custody information submitted under this section; and
(2) Maintain the chain of custody information permanently; and
(3) Develop and maintain a publicly accessible website on or before July 1, 2028, that includes:
(i) The chain of custody information submitted to the department under this section; and
(ii) The names and contact information of each custodian that provided the chain of custody information. LC003978 - Page 3 of 5
(h)(1) With regard to violations subject to subsection (c) of this section, a person that violates the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2) A penalty shall not be imposed under this section unless a person is first issued a written notice of violation.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.