State House: Bottle bill balk and school cell phone ban headed to McKee

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The bottle bill is back on the shelf, as both House Speaker Shekarchi and Senate President Lawson jointly announced a bill establishing a needs assessment to create a better bottle redemption and recycling plan.

This would pause the proposed 10 cent tax on glass bottles, which would be refundable at designated recycling centers, and instead allow the Department of Environmental Management to work with third party consultants for a new assessment, due at the end of 2026.

The bill will be considered by the house environment and natural resources committee later Wednesday.

Also at the State House, a ban on cell phone use at school is now one step closer to becoming law.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the bill Monday.

The bill also passed a senate vote last month and the bill now heads to Governor Dan McKee’s desk.

The legislation would require each public school to create its own policy on cell phone use in class and during activities like field trips.