2026 -- H 7915

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LC005355

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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 WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS

     Introduced By: Representatives Chippendale, Place, Santucci, Cotter, Handy, Carson,
Tanzi, Noret, Bennett, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 46-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-22 entitled "Regulation

of Boats" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     46-22-4. Identification number and registration fee.

     (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the owner of each motorboat shall

file biennially an application for registration with the department of environmental management on

forms approved by the director. The application shall be accompanied by a registration fee

according to the following schedule:

OVERALL LENGTH AT NOT MORE THAN FEET BIENNIAL FEE

LEAST FEET UNDER 15 $30

16 20 $40

21 25 $60

26 30 $100

31 35 $200

36 40 $250

41 45 $300

46 50 $400

51 and over $600

     (i) For the purpose of the above fee schedule, “overall length” shall be defined as the

horizontal distance between the foremost part of the stem, and, the aftermost part of the stern,

excluding bowsprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or

attachments. For purposes of this section, a fraction of a foot shall be deemed to be the next higher

foot.

     (ii) The fee payable under this section for any motorboat owned by a nonprofit organization

shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).

     (iii) All vessels over thirty feet (30′) may, upon request, pay the registration fee annually

at the rate of one-half (½) the biennial fee for a vessel of the same length.

     (iv) In addition to the registration fee payable under this section, the owner of each

motorboat shall pay five dollars ($5.00) biennially. Pursuant to this section, where the owner of a

motorboat pays an annual registration fee, the additional fee shall be two dollars and fifty cents

($2.50) annually. The additional fees shall be deposited in a restricted account for freshwater

preservation as set forth in § 46-33-3.

     (2) Upon receipt of the completed application and correct registration fee, the department

of environmental management shall enter the application and registration fee into its records, and

issue to the owner a certificate of number stating the number awarded to the motorboat and the

name and address of the owner. The owner shall paint on or attach to each side of the bow of the

motorboat the identification number in such manner as may be prescribed by rules and regulations

of the department of environmental management in order that it may be clearly visible. The number

shall be maintained in legible condition. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be

available at all times for inspection on the motorboat for which issued, whenever that motorboat is

in operation.

     (b) The owner of any motorboat already covered by an identification number, in full force

and effect, which has been awarded to it pursuant to then operative federal law or a federally

approved numbering system of another state, shall record the number with the department of

environmental management prior to operating the motorboat on the waters of this state in excess of

the ninety (90) day reciprocity period provided for in § 46-22-6(a). The recordation shall be in the

manner and subject to the procedure and fees required for the award and transfer of a number under

subsections (a) and (c) through (i), except that no additional or substitute number shall be issued.

     (c) Should the ownership of a motorboat change, a new application form shall be filed with

the department of environmental management. Should the change in ownership take place before

the date upon which the certificate of number expires, the new owner shall pay an administrative

fee of ten dollars ($10.00). The number assigned to the vessel shall remain with the vessel and be

non-transferable while the vessel remains certified in the state of Rhode Island; provided, however,

that upon the request of the owner of a duly registered vessel of historic value that is more than

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fifty (50) years old, the number assigned to the vessel may be transferred to a different historic

vessel owned by the same person. The original vessel will be given a new registration number and

the owner shall pay a transfer fee of six dollars ($6.00) for each vessel.

     (d) In the event that an agency of the United States government shall have in force an

overall system of identification numbering for motorboats within the United States, the numbering

system employed pursuant to this chapter by the department of environmental management shall

be in conformity therewith.

     (e) All records of the department of environmental management made or kept pursuant to

this section shall be public records.

     (f) The department of environmental management shall fix a day and month of the year on

which the certificate of number is due to expire and no longer be of any force and effect, unless

renewed pursuant to this chapter.

     (g) The owner shall furnish the department of environmental management notice of the

transfer of all or any part of the owner’s interest, other than the creation of a security interest in a

motorboat numbered in this state, pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), or of the destruction or

abandonment of the motorboat, within fifteen (15) days thereof. That destruction shall terminate

the certificate of number for the motorboat.

     (h) Any holder of a certificate of number shall notify the department of environmental

management within fifteen (15) days if the holder’s address no longer conforms to the address

appearing on the certificate and shall, as a part of the notification, furnish the department of

environmental management the new address. The department of environmental management may

provide, in its rules and regulations, for the surrender of the certificate bearing the former address

or for the alteration of an outstanding certificate to show the new address of the holder.

     (i) No number, other than the number awarded to a motorboat or granted reciprocity

pursuant to this chapter, shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow

of the motorboat.

     (j) Biennial registration shall be phased in, alphabetically, over a two (2) year period

starting January 1, 1999 at which time all owners whose last names begin with the letters “A”

through “M” applications for registration will be accepted for consideration on a biennial basis.

Owners whose last names begin with the letters “N” through “Z” shall be subject to biennial

registration starting January 1, 2000.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 46-33 of the General Laws entitled "Freshwater Lake Management

Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     46-33-3. Establishment of restricted receipt account -- Collection and deposit of fees.

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     All fees collected by the director in accordance with § 46-22-4(a)(iv) shall be placed in a

restricted receipt account to be known as the "Rhode Island lake management program fund" for

the specific purposes of providing funding necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter

pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the department for the spending of the deposits

collected by the fund.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS

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     This act would authorize the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the

registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund

the newly established freshwater lake management program.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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