S3185ACities & Towns

Towns and Cities - Dam Management Districts

This bill protects the Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District from lawsuits and allows Burrillville to waive its property taxes.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

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Introduced Apr 3, 2026Committee Senate Housing & Municipal Government

Plain-English Summary

This bill provides the Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District with immunity from civil lawsuits for any injuries or damages that occur on the lake bed property it owns or leases. It also authorizes the town of Burrillville to pass local rules that exempt the district's property, including the lake bed, dam, and spillways, from real and personal property taxes. Additionally, the bill allows the district to collect its management fees in Burrillville using the same methods and authority as a standard municipal tax collector.

For younger readers

This bill gives a special group that takes care of the Wilson's Reservoir dam in Rhode Island two new rules. First, if someone gets hurt on the lake bottom owned by the group, the group cannot be sued for it. Second, it lets the local town decide not to charge the group property taxes for the lake and the dam. It also says the group can collect its fees the same way a town collects its regular taxes.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management DistrictResidents of BurrillvilleProperty owners near Wilson's ReservoirVisitors to Wilson's ReservoirBurrillville town tax officials

Impacted communities

Burrillville, Glocester

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. Sovereign immunity for state and local government entities, including special management districts, is a well-established legal principle. Similarly, delegating tax collection authority and granting property tax exemptions to quasi-public or municipal entities are standard legislative practices that do not typically violate constitutional rights.

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects a community organization dedicated to managing local environmental infrastructure from financially devastating lawsuits.
Helps ensure the long-term sustainability of the reservoir by relieving the management district of property tax burdens.
Strengthens the district's ability to collect necessary maintenance fees by granting them the same authority as municipal tax collectors, ensuring all users pay their fair share.
Grants broad immunity from civil liability, potentially denying justice and compensation to individuals who are harmed by the district's negligence.
Exempts the district from property taxes, which reduces local tax revenue that could otherwise be used to fund public schools and social safety net programs.
Equips a non-municipal management district with aggressive tax-collection powers, which could disproportionately burden lower-income residents who fall behind on fees.

For Conservatives

Reduces the tax burden on the dam management district by allowing the town to exempt its property from real and personal property taxes.
Limits legal liability by granting the district immunity from civil lawsuits, reducing the risk of frivolous litigation and high insurance costs.
Empowers local municipalities by leaving the decision to grant tax exemptions up to the town of Burrillville rather than imposing a statewide mandate.
Expands government-like tax collection powers to a specialized management district, increasing bureaucratic overreach over private citizens.
Creates special tax carve-outs for a specific entity, which unfairly shifts the tax burden onto other private property owners and businesses in the town.
Infringes on the rights of private citizens to seek legal recourse and hold the management district accountable for damages or injuries occurring on the lake bed.

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.