H8028ACities & Towns

Towns and Cities - Dam Management Districts

This bill grants liability protection, property tax exemptions, and tax-like fee collection powers to the Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

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Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This bill gives the newly created Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District the same legal and financial benefits that the Pascoag Reservoir Dam Management District already has. Specifically, it protects the district from being sued for accidents or injuries that happen on the lake bed property it owns or leases. It also allows the town of Burrillville to pass local laws exempting the district's property, such as the lake bed and dam structures, from real and personal property taxes. Finally, it allows Burrillville to collect district fees using the same methods it uses to collect town taxes.

For younger readers

A dam is a big wall built to hold back water and make a lake. This bill helps the group of people in charge of taking care of Wilson's Reservoir in Burrillville. It says that if someone gets hurt on the lake's bottom, the group can't be sued for money. It also lets the town decide not to charge the group property taxes for owning the lake and the dam. Lastly, it lets the town collect fees for the dam the same way they collect regular taxes, which helps pay for keeping the dam safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Residents of BurrillvilleProperty owners near Wilson's ReservoirTown of Burrillville officialsWilson's Reservoir Dam Management DistrictVisitors to Wilson's Reservoir

Impacted communities

Burrillville, Glocester

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. The bill grants statutory immunity to a quasi-public/municipal entity (Dam Management District) and authorizes local tax exemptions, both of which are standard exercises of state legislative power regarding municipal corporations and sovereign immunity.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects the financial stability of the local dam management district by granting liability immunity, ensuring community resources are spent on environmental maintenance and public safety rather than defending against lawsuits.
Allows for local tax exemptions for the dam district, which prevents the district from being burdened by property taxes and helps keep management fees lower for local residents.
Strengthens the enforcement of fee collection by treating district fees like municipal taxes, ensuring adequate and equitable funding for the continued preservation of the reservoir.
Grants blanket immunity from civil liability to the dam management district, which restricts the right of individuals to seek justice and compensation if they are injured due to the district's negligence.
Exempting the district from property taxes could slightly reduce overall tax revenue for the town of Burrillville, which might otherwise be used to fund local public services, schools, or social safety nets.
Using aggressive municipal tax collection methods (such as tax sales or property liens) to collect dam management fees could disproportionately harm low-income property owners who struggle to pay these fees.

For Conservatives

Implements a form of tort reform by shielding the dam management district from civil liability and frivolous lawsuits, protecting the entity from costly legal battles.
Reduces the tax burden on the district by authorizing the town to exempt the property and structures from real and personal property taxes.
Empowers local municipal government (Burrillville) with the discretion to enact these tax exemptions and manage fee collections, supporting the conservative principle of localized governance.
Expands government authority by giving the fee collector the same powerful tools used for municipal tax collection, such as placing liens on private property for unpaid fees.
Granting tax exemptions to the district shifts the overall tax burden onto other private property owners and businesses in the town of Burrillville.
Denies private citizens their individual right to seek legal recourse and hold the district accountable for potential damages, injuries, or loss of life occurring on the property.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 17 additions

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.