2026 -- H 7673

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LC004929

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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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

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     (Dept. of Environmental Management)

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

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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.

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LC004929

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL

OF PROPERTY

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     This act would authorize the department of environmental management to enter into leases

of up to forty (40) years at State Pier #9 in Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other ports

and marine facilities owned and operated by the department.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004929

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