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H 7056Tourism & Recreation

Parks and Recreational Areas - General Provisions

This bill allows individuals considered disabled under Medicaid rules to enter state parks and beaches without paying fees.

Held for study
Population
Affected
12
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 9, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This legislation expands the criteria for fee exemptions at Rhode Island state-owned recreational facilities, such as parks and beaches. Currently, individuals receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or 100% service-connected Veterans benefits are exempt from admission, parking, and golf fees. This bill amends the law to also include individuals who have been determined by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to be disabled for the purposes of Medicaid eligibility. This changes allows these specific Medicaid recipients to access state recreational facilities free of charge.

For younger readers

Right now, the state allows people with certain disabilities to go to state parks and beaches for free. This helps them enjoy the outdoors without having to pay money they might not have. Currently, this rule applies to people who get help from specific government programs because they cannot work. This new law adds a new group to that list: people who are considered disabled under a program called Medicaid, which helps people pay for doctors. This change means more people who need help will be able to visit parks and beaches for free.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Medicaid recipients with disabilitiesDepartment of Environmental ManagementExecutive Office of Health and Human ServicesState Park StaffGeneral Taxpayers
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Amount unknown
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Increases equitable access to public green spaces and recreational facilities for low-income individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid, ensuring that financial status does not prevent enjoyment of nature.
  • Strengthens the social safety net by aligning state recreational benefits with Medicaid eligibility, recognizing that disability definitions should be consistent across state services to better support vulnerable populations.
  • Promotes physical and mental health equity by removing cost barriers to outdoor recreation, which is proven to have therapeutic benefits for individuals managing long-term health conditions or disabilities.
  • Does not address the broader issue that public parks and beaches should ideally be free for all residents, regardless of disability or income status, rather than relying on means-testing.
  • Potential loss of revenue for the Department of Environmental Management could be used as a pretext by fiscal conservatives to cut funding for park maintenance or staff wages in the future.
  • Requires individuals to disclose their specific government benefit status to park attendants to receive the waiver, which could be viewed as an undignified invasion of privacy for marginalized groups.
For Conservatives
  • Utilizes an existing verification system (Medicaid eligibility) rather than creating a new, costly bureaucratic process to determine who qualifies for fee waivers.
  • Demonstrates compassionate support for the genuinely disabled without necessarily creating a universal handout, keeping the benefit targeted toward those with documented physical or mental impairments.
  • Encourages the use of state assets by residents, ensuring that tax-funded parks are utilized by the citizenry rather than sitting empty.
  • Expands the scope of government handouts by widening the pool of people exempt from user fees, which ultimately shifts the cost burden of park maintenance onto taxpaying citizens.
  • Reduces revenue generated by state facilities, which is fiscally irresponsible and could lead to budget deficits or requests for tax increases to cover the shortfall.
  • Erodes the "user fee" principle where those who use a service contribute to its upkeep, effectively subsidizing leisure activities for a specific group at the expense of the general public.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 7 additions · 5 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 32-1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 32-1 entitled "General Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows: 32-1-17. Persons with disabilities. No fee shall be charged any person with a disability regardless of age, or to automobiles transporting a non-driver with a disability, at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state; provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the department of environmental management. For the purpose of this section “person with a disability” shall mean an individual who has a physical or mental impairment and is receiving:

(a) Social Receiving social security disability benefits (SSDI);

(b) Supplemental Receiving supplemental security income benefits (SSI); or

(c) Veterans Receiving veterans benefits and who shall be determined under applicable federal law by the federal department of veterans’ affairs to be one hundred percent (100%) disabled through a service-connected disability.;or

(d) Determined by the executive office of health and human services, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility. For purpose of this section, “fees” shall include all fees for parking, admittance, or other user fees for playing golf. The term “fees” shall not include licensing fees, camping fees, picnic table fees, or specialized facility use fees, including, but not limited to, fees for the use of equestrian areas, performing arts centers, game fields, and mule shed.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.