AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- DEER HUNTING (Creates mechanism for New Shoreham to seek a time limited exemption from certain statewide deer hunting prohibitions.)

H8451

2026 -- H 8451
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LC006339
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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 FISH AND WILDLIFE -- DEER HUNTING

Introduced By:
Representative Tina L. Spears

Date Introduced:
April 15, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Findings and Purpose.
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The General Assembly finds that the town of New Shoreham, located on Block Island,
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presents unique ecological, geographic, and public health circumstances with respect to deer
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management that are not adequately addressed by the statewide regulatory framework established
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under this chapter and § 20-1-12. The island's geographic isolation, limited land area, a deer
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population exceeding ecologically sustainable levels, and the associated risks to human health from
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tick-borne illness, to native flora and fauna, and to public safety, collectively constitute a distinct
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management challenge. It is therefore the purpose of this section to create a mechanism by which
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New Shoreham may seek a time-limited exemption from certain statewide prohibitions governing
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deer hunting and management, subject to the oversight and approval of the director of the
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department of environmental management.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 20-15 of the General Laws entitled "Deer Hunting" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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20-15-10. New Shoreham island deer overpopulation exemption.

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(a) Definitions. As used in this section:
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(1) "Director" means the director of the department of environmental management or
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designee.
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(2) "Exemption period" means the time-limited period, not to exceed two (2) years, during
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which an approved island deer management plan is in effect.

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(3) "Island deer management plan" or "plan" means the written plan submitted by the town
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council to the director pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
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(4) "Town" means the town of New Shoreham.
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(5) "Town council" means the elected town council of the town of New Shoreham.
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(6) "Town lands" means all lands within the territorial jurisdiction of the town of New
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Shoreham, including privately owned parcels for which written landowner consent has been
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obtained, but expressly excluding any lands owned, managed, or controlled by the federal
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government or the State of Rhode Island, unless the relevant federal or state authority has provided
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written consent to inclusion.
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(b) Authority to seek exemption. The town council is hereby authorized to petition the
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director for a time-limited exemption from one or more of the prohibitions or restrictions set forth
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in regulations adopted pursuant to § 20-1-12 including, but not limited to, restrictions concerning
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allowable seasons, hunting hours, permissible methods of take, bag limits, and permitting
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requirements, for the sole purpose of deer population control on town lands to mitigate tick-borne
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illnesses. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize an exemption from any prohibition
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enumerated in §§ 20-15-(1)(i) and 20-15-(4), or from any requirement of federal law.
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(c) Petition requirements. A petition for exemption submitted by the town council shall be
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in writing and shall include, at a minimum, the following:
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(1) A description of the deer population conditions on the island, supported by population
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data, wildlife surveys, or other evidence acceptable to the director;
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(2) A demonstration that the deer population presents a significant threat to public health
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including, but not limited to, the high incidence of tick-borne illnesses, native ecological resources,
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agricultural interests, or public safety on the island;
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(3) A proposed island deer management plan specifying:
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(i) The specific regulatory prohibitions or restrictions from which an exemption is sought;
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(ii) The proposed methods of deer management and take to be authorized in lieu of or in
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addition to existing statewide regulations;
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(iii) The geographic boundaries of lands to be covered by the plan;
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(iv) The proposed duration of the exemption period, which shall not exceed two (2)
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consecutive years;
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(v) Measurable population reduction targets and benchmarks;
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(vi) Proposed public safety protocols;
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(vii) A harvest reporting and monitoring program; and
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(viii) Evidence that the town council has held at least one duly noticed public hearing on

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the proposed plan prior to submission;
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(4) A list of any local ordinances or regulations the town council proposes to adopt to
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implement the plan during the exemption period; and
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(5) A description of coordination efforts with adjacent landowners, conservation
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organizations, and other affected parties.
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(d) Review and approval by director. Upon receipt of a complete petition, the director shall:
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(1) Review the petition and island deer management plan for consistency with sound
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wildlife management principles, public safety, and applicable state and federal law;
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(2) Hold at least one public hearing on the petition in New Shoreham within thirty (30)
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days of receipt of a complete petition;
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(3) Issue a written decision approving, approving with conditions, or denying the petition
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within sixty (60) days of the public hearing;
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(4) In approving a petition, specify the precise regulatory provisions from which an
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exemption is granted, the exemption period, all conditions and reporting requirements, and any
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provisions the director deems necessary to protect public safety and wildlife resources;
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(5) File the approved plan as an emergency or limited regulation in accordance with the
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applicable provisions of the chapter 35 of title 42("Administrative Procedures Act"); and
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(6) The director may deny a petition upon a finding that the proposed plan is inconsistent
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with public safety, sound wildlife management, or applicable law, and shall state the reasons for
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such denial in writing. A denial may be appealed to the department of environmental management
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office of administrative adjudication within thirty (30) days.
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(e) Local regulations during exemption period. Upon director approval of an island deer
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management plan, the town council is authorized to adopt local ordinances or regulations
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implementing the plan solely within town lands, which may include provisions governing:
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(1) Allowable seasons and hunting hours applicable on town lands, subject to the limits
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authorized in the approved plan;
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(2) Permissible methods of take, which may include methods not otherwise authorized
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under § 20-15-(5), to the extent specifically authorized by the director in the approved plan;
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(3) Landowner cooperative arrangements facilitating access to private lands for purposes
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of deer management under the plan;
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(4) Local permitting and certification requirements for persons engaged in deer
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management activities under the plan; and
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(5) The administration and disbursement of any local bounty, incentive, or reimbursement
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program for deer harvested pursuant to the plan.

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(6) Local regulations adopted under this subsection shall not conflict with any condition
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imposed by the director in approving the plan and shall be filed with the director within thirty (30)
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days of adoption.
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(f) Continuation of state enforcement authority. Nothing in this section shall be construed
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to limit, diminish, or transfer the enforcement authority of the director, environmental police
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officers, or conservation officers under §§ 20-1-5 and 20-1-8. Environmental police officers shall
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retain full authority to enforce state law and the conditions of the approved island deer management
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plan within town lands throughout any exemption period.
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(g) Reporting and monitoring. During any exemption period, the town shall submit to the
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director annual written reports documenting:
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(1) The number and sex of deer harvested;
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(2) Progress toward population reduction targets;
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(3) Any public safety incidents; and
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(4) Such other data as the director may require. The director shall retain authority to modify
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or revoke an approved plan at any time upon a finding that continued implementation presents a
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threat to public safety or wildlife resources, or that the town has materially failed to comply with
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the plan or its conditions, following written notice to the town council and an opportunity to be
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heard.
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(h) Expiration and renewal. An exemption period shall expire automatically at the
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conclusion of the term specified in the approved plan. The town council may petition for renewal
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pursuant to the same process set forth in this section. No exemption shall be in effect for more than
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two (2) consecutive years without renewal. Upon expiration or revocation of an exemption, all
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statewide regulations under this chapter and § 20-1-12 shall apply in full to town lands.
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(i) Liability and indemnification. The town shall indemnify and hold harmless the State of
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Rhode Island, the department of environmental management, and their officers, agents, and
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employees from any claims, damages, or liabilities arising from the implementation of an island
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deer management plan by the town or its agents.
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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 FISH AND WILDLIFE -- DEER HUNTING
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This act would create a mechanism by which the town of New Shoreham may seek a time
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limited exemption from certain statewide prohibitions governing deer hunting and management,
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subject to the oversight and approval of the director of the department of environmental
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management.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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