H 8028

2026 -- H 8028 SUBSTITUTE A
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 LC004797/SUB A
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  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:
1SECTION 1. Sections 45-62-5.1 and 45-62-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-62 entitled
2 "Dam Management Districts" are hereby amended to read as follows:
345-62-5.1. Immunity from civil liability.
4(a) Pascoag Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be
5 immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Pascoag Reservoir Dam
6 Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.
7(b) Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be
8 immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Wilson's Reservoir Dam
9 Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.
1045-62-7. Exemption from real and personal property taxes.
11(a) The towns of Burriville and Glocester are authorized to enact ordinances which exempt
12 from taxation real and personal property owned by a Dam Management District created pursuant
13 to this chapter, said exemption to be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of the Pascoag
14 Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake and property on which any dam, spillway and any appurtenant
15 structures may be located as the same relate to the Pascoag Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake.
16(b)(1) The town of Burrillville may by ordinance exempt from taxation real and personal
17 property owned by a dam management district created pursuant to this chapter, said exemptions to
18 be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir (Burrillville assessor’s
19 map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064), and property on which any dam,
1 spillway and any appurtenant structures may be located as the same relate to the Wilson’s
2 Reservoir.
3(2) With respect to the town of Burrillville, collection of dam management district fees
4 shall be in the same manner as provided by law for the collection of taxes by municipalities and the
5 collector of fees for said management district and have the same powers and authority as are by
6 law conferred on collection of taxes for towns in the state.
7SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
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1This act would exempt property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir
2 (Burrillville assessor’s map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064) in the town of
3 Burrillville from taxation. Additionally, this act would mandate in the town of Burrillville the
4 collection of dam management district fees to be in the same manner as collection of taxes by
5 municipalities and would add the lake bed Wilson’s Reservoir to the immunity from civil liability
6 for any fort committed on the property.
7This act would take effect upon passage.
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