2026 -- H 8028 SUBSTITUTE A

========

LC004797/SUB A

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Place, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 45-62-5.1 and 45-62-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-62 entitled

"Dam Management Districts" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     45-62-5.1. Immunity from civil liability.

     (a) Pascoag Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be

immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Pascoag Reservoir Dam

Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.

     (b) Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be

immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Wilson's Reservoir Dam

Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.

     45-62-7. Exemption from real and personal property taxes.

     (a) The towns of Burriville and Glocester are authorized to enact ordinances which exempt

from taxation real and personal property owned by a Dam Management District created pursuant

to this chapter, said exemption to be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of the Pascoag

Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake and property on which any dam, spillway and any appurtenant

structures may be located as the same relate to the Pascoag Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake.

     (b)(1) The town of Burrillville may by ordinance exempt from taxation real and personal

property owned by a dam management district created pursuant to this chapter, said exemptions to

be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir (Burrillville assessor’s

map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064), and property on which any dam,

spillway and any appurtenant structures may be located as the same relate to the Wilson’s

Reservoir.

     (2) With respect to the town of Burrillville, collection of dam management district fees

shall be in the same manner as provided by law for the collection of taxes by municipalities and the

collector of fees for said management district and have the same powers and authority as are by

law conferred on collection of taxes for towns in the state.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004797/SUB A

========

LC004797/SUB A - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

***

     This act would exempt property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir

(Burrillville assessor’s map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064) in the town of

Burrillville from taxation. Additionally, this act would mandate in the town of Burrillville the

collection of dam management district fees to be in the same manner as collection of taxes by

municipalities and would add the lake bed Wilson’s Reservoir to the immunity from civil liability

for any fort committed on the property.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004797/SUB A

========

LC004797/SUB A - Page 3 of 3