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H7056 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Spears, Cotter, McGaw, Dawson, Boylan, Kazarian, Shanley, Caldwell, Read, DeSimone
Last action
2026-04-14
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-14 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/14/2026)

  3. 2026-01-09 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Finance

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Adds to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any recreational facility owned and operated by the state those individuals determined by the executive office of HHS, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H7056

2026 -- H 7056
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LC003891
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

Introduced By:
Representatives Spears, Cotter, McGaw, Dawson, Boylan, Kazarian,
Shanley, Caldwell, Read, and DeSimone

Date Introduced:
January 09, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 32-1-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 32-1 entitled "General
2
Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

32-1-17. Persons with disabilities.
4
No fee shall be charged any person with a disability regardless of age, or to automobiles
5
transporting a non-driver with a disability, at any recreational facility owned and operated by the
6
state; provided, however, proper identification is presented as prescribed by the department of
7
environmental management. For the purpose of this section “person with a disability” shall mean
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an individual who has a physical or mental impairment and is
receiving
:
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(a)
Social

Receiving social
security disability benefits (SSDI);
10
(b)
Supplemental

Receiving supplemental
security income benefits (SSI); or
11
(c)
Veterans

Receiving veterans
benefits and who shall be determined under applicable
12
federal law by the federal department of veterans’ affairs to be one hundred percent (100%)
13
disabled through a service-connected disability
.
;or
14

(d) Determined by the executive office of health and human services, or its designee, to be
15
disabled for purposes of Medicaid eligibility.
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For purpose of this section, “fees” shall include all fees for parking, admittance, or other
17
user fees for playing golf. The term “fees” shall not include licensing fees, camping fees, picnic
18
table fees, or specialized facility use fees, including, but not limited to, fees for the use of equestrian
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areas, performing arts centers, game fields, and mule shed.

1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS
***
1
This act would add to those persons exempt from payment of parking fees at any
2
recreational facility owned and operated by the state, those individuals determined by the executive
3
office of health and human services, or its designee, to be disabled for purposes of Medicaid
4
eligibility.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
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