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Forest Parity Act draws competing testimony on logging, small business support and old‑growth protection
Summary
Lawmakers heard House Bill 5,098 to extend parity and tax treatment for forestry operations, with industry witnesses urging support to keep local workers employed while conservation groups warned the bill could enable damaging logging and clear‑cutting without stronger safeguards
At a hearing before the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Representative Carter introduced House Bill 5,098, the “Forest Parity Act,” aimed at aligning tax and regulatory treatment for forestry operations, arborists and related forest businesses.
Carter said Rhode Island’s forestry workforce is aging and that nearly all forests are unmanaged year to year; the bill aims to encourage local participation in forest management and…
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