2025 -- H 6186

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LC002675

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND DEFINE THE TERM "HOUSEBOAT"

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Casimiro, and Craven

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island has numerous statutes, regulations, and policies

governing vessels and water-based dwellings, but there is no uniform definition of "houseboat"

across all relevant authorities; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the

Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), and the United States Coast Guard each

provide varying definitions and regulatory frameworks concerning floating structures,

houseboats, and live-aboard vessels; and

     WHEREAS, A clear and consistent definition of "houseboat" is essential for ensuring

proper regulatory oversight, environmental protection, and fair application of state and local laws;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the Rhode Island House of Representatives hereby creates a Task

Force to study and define the term "houseboat" in consideration of existing definitions under state

law, Department of Environmental Management regulations, Coastal Resources Management

Commission regulations, and Coast Guard classifications; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Task Force shall consist of the following members:

     (1) Two (2) members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the

House, one of whom shall serve as Chair, who shall call the meetings;

     (2) One representative from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

(DEM), appointed by the Director of the DEM;

     (3) One representative from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC),

appointed by the chair of CRMC;

     (4) One representative from the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, appointed by

the Speaker of the House;

     (5) Three (3) representatives from three (3) different municipal harbor management

     commissions, appointed by the Speaker of the House;

     (6) One representative from the United States Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New

England, by request of the House of Representatives to the United States Coast Guard for this

appointment; in the event the United States Coast Guard declines, or fails to respond to this

request in the affirmative, then a member who shall be an expert in federal vessel classifications,

shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

     (7) One representative from the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, appointed by

the director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns; and

     (8) Any additional members as deemed necessary by the Chair to ensure broad

stakeholder representation; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet no fewer than four (4) times and shall

deliver a final report, including recommendations for a standardized definition of "houseboat," to

the Speaker of the House no later than January 31, 2026; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this Resolution to the Speaker of the House, the Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the Executive Director of the Coastal

Resources Management Council, and the Commander of the United States Coast Guard Sector

Southeastern New England.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND DEFINE THE TERM "HOUSEBOAT"

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     This Resolution would authorize the creation of a special Task Force to study and define

the term "houseboat" in consideration of existing definitions under current law.

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