2025 -- S 0025
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LC000473
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO COMMERCI AL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISION S --
TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS
Introduced By: Senators Gu, DiMario, Murray, Ujifusa, Valverde, Britto, and Lauria
Date Introduced: January 23, 2025
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. 1
The general assembly finds and declares that eliminating the sale of farmed fur products in 2
the State of Rhode Island will decrease demand for cruel products, reduce public health risks, 3
promote community awareness of animal welfare, alleviate environmental burdens, foster a more 4
humane environment, and enhance the reputation of the state. 5
SECTION 2. Title 6 of the General Laws entitled "COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL 6
REGULATORY PROVISIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 7
CHAPTER 61 8
TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS ACT 9
6-61-1. Short title. 10
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Trade In Farmed Animal Fur 11
Products Act". 12
6-61-2. Definitions. 13
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: 14
(1) “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached 15
thereto, either in its raw or processed state. 16
(2) “Fur farm” means any operation, including the land, buildings, support facilities, and 17
any other location or equipment, in which animals including, but not limited to, mink, fox, raccoon 18
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dog or chinchilla are owned, controlled, raised, bred, propagated, or kept for the value of their fur. 1
(3)(i) “Fur product” means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or 2
any fashion accessory including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, 3
scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and décor, that 4
is made, in whole or in part, of fur. 5
(ii) “Fur product” does not include any of the following: 6
(A) An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into leather, or which in 7
processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed; 8
(B) Animal hair, fleece, or fur fibers that are not attached to skin (e.g., fishing lures); or 9
(C) Fur, wool, or other fibers sourced exclusively from any member of the family Bovidae, 10
Camelidae, Equidae, Suidae, or Cervidae; 11
(4) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited 12
liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate. 13
(5) “Ultimate consumer” means an individual who buys a fur product for their own use, or 14
for the use of another, but not for resale or trade. 15
(6) “Used fur product” means a fur product that has been worn or used by an ultimate 16
consumer. 17
6-61-3. Prohibitions. 18
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for 19
sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary or nonmonetary consideration, a 20
fur product in the State of Rhode Island if any of the fur contained in the fur product was sourced 21
from an animal that was raised, maintained, kept, or housed for all or part of its life on a fur farm. 22
For purposes of this section, the sale of a fur product shall be deemed to occur in the State of Rhode 23
Island if: 24
(1) The buyer takes physical possession of the fur product in Rhode Island; or 25
(2) The seller is located in Rhode Island. 26
6-61-4. Exemptions. 27
The prohibitions set forth in § 6-61-3 shall not apply to the sale, offer for sale, display for 28
sale, trade, or distribution of: 29
(1) A used fur product; or 30
(2) A fur product where the activity is expressly authorized by federal law. 31
6-61-5. Civil Penalty. 32
(a) A violation of this chapter shall be a civil infraction. Any person who violates this 33
chapter shall be subject to the following penalties: 34
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(1) For a first violation, a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500); 1
(2) For a second violation that occurred within one year of a previous civil infraction, a 2
civil penalty of up to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750). 3
(3) For a third violation that occurred within one year of a second civil infraction, a civil 4
penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). 5
(b) Each fur product that constitutes a violation of this chapter shall be treated as a separate 6
violation in any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter. 7
6-61-6. Enforcement. 8
(a) The attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. The attorney general 9
may also seek injunctive relief to prevent further violations of this chapter. 10
(b) Within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter, the attorney general shall 11
promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter. 12
(3) Any municipality may, by ordinance, enforce the provisions of § 6-61-5. 13
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be a rebuttable presumption 14
that a fur product contains fur that was sourced from an animal raised, maintained, kept, or housed 15
for all or part of its life on a fur farm. 16
6-61-7 Severability. 17
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is 18
held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application which can be given 19
effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are 20
declared to be severable. 21
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect three (3) years after passage. 22
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COMMERCI AL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --
TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS
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This act would prohibit a person to sell, offer for sale, display for sale or otherwise 1
distribute a farmed animal fur product within the state and would provide graduated civil penalties 2
for violations. 3
This act would take effect three (3) years after passage. 4
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