AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS (Authorizes the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund the newly established freshwater lake management program.)

H7915

2026 -- H 7915
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LC005355
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS

Introduced By:
Representatives Chippendale, Place, Santucci, Cotter, Handy, Carson,
Tanzi, Noret, Bennett, and Edwards

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 46-22-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 46-22 entitled "Regulation
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of Boats" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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46-22-4. Identification number and registration fee.
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(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the owner of each motorboat shall
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file biennially an application for registration with the department of environmental management on
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forms approved by the director. The application shall be accompanied by a registration fee
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according to the following schedule:
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OVERALL LENGTH AT NOT MORE THAN FEET BIENNIAL FEE
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LEAST FEET UNDER 15 $30
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16 20 $40
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21 25 $60
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26 30 $100
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31 35 $200
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36 40 $250
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41 45 $300
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46 50 $400
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51 and over $600
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(i) For the purpose of the above fee schedule, “overall length” shall be defined as the
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horizontal distance between the foremost part of the stem, and, the aftermost part of the stern,

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excluding bowsprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets, and similar fittings or
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attachments. For purposes of this section, a fraction of a foot shall be deemed to be the next higher
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foot.
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(ii) The fee payable under this section for any motorboat owned by a nonprofit organization
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shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
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(iii) All vessels over thirty feet (30′) may, upon request, pay the registration fee annually
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at the rate of one-half (½) the biennial fee for a vessel of the same length.
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(iv) In addition to the registration fee payable under this section, the owner of each
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motorboat shall pay five dollars ($5.00) biennially. Pursuant to this section, where the owner of a
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motorboat pays an annual registration fee, the additional fee shall be two dollars and fifty cents
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($2.50) annually. The additional fees shall be deposited in a restricted account for freshwater
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preservation as set forth in § 46-33-3.
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(2) Upon receipt of the completed application and correct registration fee, the department
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of environmental management shall enter the application and registration fee into its records, and
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issue to the owner a certificate of number stating the number awarded to the motorboat and the
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name and address of the owner. The owner shall paint on or attach to each side of the bow of the
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motorboat the identification number in such manner as may be prescribed by rules and regulations
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of the department of environmental management in order that it may be clearly visible. The number
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shall be maintained in legible condition. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be
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available at all times for inspection on the motorboat for which issued, whenever that motorboat is
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in operation.
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(b) The owner of any motorboat already covered by an identification number, in full force
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and effect, which has been awarded to it pursuant to then operative federal law or a federally
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approved numbering system of another state, shall record the number with the department of
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environmental management prior to operating the motorboat on the waters of this state in excess of
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the ninety (90) day reciprocity period provided for in § 46-22-6(a). The recordation shall be in the
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manner and subject to the procedure and fees required for the award and transfer of a number under
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subsections (a) and (c) through (i), except that no additional or substitute number shall be issued.
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(c) Should the ownership of a motorboat change, a new application form shall be filed with
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the department of environmental management. Should the change in ownership take place before
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the date upon which the certificate of number expires, the new owner shall pay an administrative
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fee of ten dollars ($10.00). The number assigned to the vessel shall remain with the vessel and be
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non-transferable while the vessel remains certified in the state of Rhode Island; provided, however,
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that upon the request of the owner of a duly registered vessel of historic value that is more than

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fifty (50) years old, the number assigned to the vessel may be transferred to a different historic
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vessel owned by the same person. The original vessel will be given a new registration number and
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the owner shall pay a transfer fee of six dollars ($6.00) for each vessel.
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(d) In the event that an agency of the United States government shall have in force an
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overall system of identification numbering for motorboats within the United States, the numbering
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system employed pursuant to this chapter by the department of environmental management shall
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be in conformity therewith.
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(e) All records of the department of environmental management made or kept pursuant to
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this section shall be public records.
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(f) The department of environmental management shall fix a day and month of the year on
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which the certificate of number is due to expire and no longer be of any force and effect, unless
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renewed pursuant to this chapter.
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(g) The owner shall furnish the department of environmental management notice of the
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transfer of all or any part of the owner’s interest, other than the creation of a security interest in a
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motorboat numbered in this state, pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), or of the destruction or
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abandonment of the motorboat, within fifteen (15) days thereof. That destruction shall terminate
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the certificate of number for the motorboat.
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(h) Any holder of a certificate of number shall notify the department of environmental
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management within fifteen (15) days if the holder’s address no longer conforms to the address
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appearing on the certificate and shall, as a part of the notification, furnish the department of
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environmental management the new address. The department of environmental management may
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provide, in its rules and regulations, for the surrender of the certificate bearing the former address
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or for the alteration of an outstanding certificate to show the new address of the holder.
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(i) No number, other than the number awarded to a motorboat or granted reciprocity
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pursuant to this chapter, shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the bow
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of the motorboat.
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(j) Biennial registration shall be phased in, alphabetically, over a two (2) year period
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starting January 1, 1999 at which time all owners whose last names begin with the letters “A”
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through “M” applications for registration will be accepted for consideration on a biennial basis.
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Owners whose last names begin with the letters “N” through “Z” shall be subject to biennial
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registration starting January 1, 2000.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 46-33 of the General Laws entitled "Freshwater Lake Management
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Program" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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46-33-3. Establishment of restricted receipt account -- Collection and deposit of fees.

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All fees collected by the director in accordance with § 46-22-4(a)(iv) shall be placed in a
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restricted receipt account to be known as the "Rhode Island lake management program fund" for
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the specific purposes of providing funding necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter
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pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the department for the spending of the deposits
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collected by the fund.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- REGULATION OF BOATS
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This act would authorize the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the
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registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund
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the newly established freshwater lake management program.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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