| Chapter 290 |
| 2026 -- H 7673 Enacted 06/23/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY |
Introduced By: Representatives Cortvriend, Carson, Tanzi, and McGaw |
| Date Introduced: February 11, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 37-7-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-7 entitled "Management |
| and Disposal of Property" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 37-7-9. Concessions, leases, and licenses — Reports. |
| (a) The acquiring authority, with the approval of the state properties committee, is |
| authorized and empowered, when it shall serve the public purpose, to grant concessions in or to |
| lease or license any land or building or structure, a part or portion of any governmental facility, |
| public work, or public improvement for industrial or commercial purposes for a term or terms not |
| exceeding in the aggregate in any one case twenty (20) years; provided, however, that real property, |
| buildings, and facilities owned by the state at the Port of Galilee in Narragansett, State Pier #9 in |
| Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other ports and marine facilities owned and operated |
| by the department of environmental management may be leased for a term of up to forty (40) years |
| for commercial fishing industry-related purposes; and provided further, however, that certain real |
| property, buildings, and facilities owned by the state located on Indian Point with a 2012 address |
| of 25 India Street in the city of Providence may be leased for a term of up to forty (40) years for |
| commercial, public recreation, marina, and redevelopment purposes; provided, however, that real |
| property, buildings, and facilities owned by the department of environmental management may be |
| leased for a term not to exceed forty (40) years for the purpose of facilitating private investment in |
| buildings or infrastructure for public recreation, or to develop or sustain a natural resource-based |
| industry and where the useful life of the investment exceeds twenty-five (25) years; and provided |
| further, however, that certain real properties, buildings, and facilities owned by the state in the city |
| of Providence known as the Union Station properties, which properties have been conveyed from |
| time to time to the state by the consolidated rail corporation and others, may be leased for a term |
| of up to forty (40) years for office, commercial, service, transportation, or other related purposes; |
| and provided further, however, that real property, buildings, and facilities owned by the state may |
| be leased for a term of up to forty (40) years for the development of cogeneration projects which |
| involve the simultaneous generation of electricity and thermal energy (steam and hot water) and |
| for eligible renewable energy resources as defined in § 39-26-5(a)(i) through (v); and further |
| provided, however, that in the event of a mobile home lease agreement or site lease agreement, |
| wherein such mobile home is contiguous to a resident-owned mobile home park, the state properties |
| committee may enter into a lease or grant concessions to or license any land or building for a period |
| not to exceed thirty (30) years; and provided further, however, that real property, buildings, and |
| facilities owned by the state may be leased for a term of up to ninety-nine (99) years for the |
| development of railroad layover facilities, contingent on the lease requiring the lessee to provide |
| commuter rail service within the state of Rhode Island, as set forth by the state; and provided |
| further, however, that real property, buildings, and facilities owned by the state at the Quonset state |
| airport may be leased to the United States Air Force for a term not to exceed forty (40) years for |
| the purpose of making improvements to infrastructure thereon. All agreements, contracts, and other |
| instruments granting concessions or leasing or licensing facilities shall contain such conditions, |
| rules, restrictions, and regulations as the state purchasing agent shall deem suitable or necessary |
| and shall be approved, as to substance, by the director of administration, and, as to form, by the |
| attorney general. |
| (b) Whenever property that is subject to the provisions of this chapter is leased by the state, |
| the lessee shall report on a semi-annual basis the amount of income revenue generated by the leased |
| property. The report shall be made to the state properties commission and copies shall be provided |
| to both the house and senate fiscal staffs and the governor. These requirements shall be contained |
| in the lease between the lessor and the lessee with approval of the state properties committee. |
| SECTION 2. Section 46-5-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-5 entitled "Construction |
| of Port Facilities" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 46-5-10. Lease of facilities. |
| The director may from time to time, in the name of the state of Rhode Island, lease any |
| property, whether improved or unimproved, acquired by purchase or by the process of law, and |
| storage facilities, wharves, piers, bulkheads, docks, sheds, warehouses, and industrial locations |
| within the director’s charge, for such term or terms not exceeding twenty (20) years, except for the |
| port of Galilee in Narragansett, State Pier #9 in Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other |
| ports and marine facilities owned and operated by the department of environmental management |
| in which property may be leased for a term of up to forty (40) years for commercial fishing industry- |
| related purposes and for any rent and with such provisions and covenants as to the director shall |
| seem to be advantageous to the state. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
| ======== |
| LC004929 |
| ======== |