H 8532Water Resources

Waters and Navigation - Water Resources Management

This bill directs 20% of state-collected rental fees from certain Coventry agreements to the town and its fire district.

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Introduced May 8, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires the state's Water Resources Board to share a portion of the rental fees it collects from the Coventry Pines Golf Club or from agreements with the town of Coventry. Specifically, 20% of these collected fees will be redirected, with 10% going to the town of Coventry and the other 10% going to the Central Coventry Fire District.

For younger readers

When the state government collects rent money from a golf course in the town of Coventry, this bill changes what happens to that money. Instead of the state keeping all of it, they will give 10 percent to the town of Coventry and another 10 percent to the local fire department. This helps the town and the fire department get some extra money to pay for the things they need to keep the community safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Town of CoventryCentral Coventry Fire DistrictWater Resources BoardCoventry Pines Golf Club

Impacted communities

Coventry

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Directs additional funding to the Central Coventry Fire District, supporting essential public safety services for the community.
Provides additional revenue to the municipal government of Coventry, potentially helping to fund local public services or assist disadvantaged residents.
Ensures that revenue generated from local land use is reinvested back into the local community, promoting community welfare and localized resource distribution.
Reduces the revenue available to the state's Water Resources Board, which could negatively impact statewide water management, environmental protection, and conservation efforts.
Allocates funds to a specific town and fire district without a needs-based assessment, potentially overlooking poorer municipalities with greater funding needs.
Subsidizes a specific local community using funds generated from land managed by a state agency, which may be seen as an inequitable distribution of state resources.

For Conservatives

Reallocates funds from a state bureaucracy directly to local municipal services, favoring local control over centralized state management.
Provides direct financial support to local fire and emergency services, reinforcing public safety and the protection of property.
Could reduce the need for local property tax increases in Coventry by providing the town with a new stream of non-tax revenue.
Mandates a specific revenue-sharing scheme that dictates how state agencies must handle their lease agreements, interfering with the agency's financial independence.
Benefits a specific local municipality and fire district at the expense of state resources, creating a localized carve-out rather than a uniform policy.
Could lead to shortfalls in the Water Resources Board budget, potentially resulting in requests for increased state funding or taxes down the line.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 46-15 of the General Laws entitled "Water Resources Management" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 46-15-25. Rental fees. Twenty percent (20%) of all rental fees collected by the water resources board pursuant to a lease agreement with the Coventry Pines Golf Club or a memorandum of understanding with the town of Coventry, shall be remitted as follows:

(1) Ten percent (10%) to the town of Coventry; and

(2) Ten percent (10%) to the Central Coventry Fire District.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.