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H8522 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Cotter
Last action
2026-05-19
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 FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

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. 2026-05-19 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-05-15 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/19/2026)

  3. 2026-05-06 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING LAWS (Provides reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H8522

2026 -- H 8522
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LC006431
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING
LAWS

Introduced By:
Representative Megan L. Cotter

Date Introduced:
May 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Environment and Natural Resources
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 20-23 of the General Laws entitled "Reciprocal Enforcement of
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Fishing Laws" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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20-23-2. Enforcement in state boundary waters of boating or fish and game laws.
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(a) If and when the state of Connecticut enacts a similar law for arrest and punishment for
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violations of boating or fish and game laws of this state, or of the state of Connecticut, committed
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or attempted to be committed by any person or persons boating or fishing in that portion of any
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waters lying between Connecticut and this state, any game protector, conservation officer, fish and
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game warden, special conservation officer, patrolman or other person of either state who is
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authorized to make arrests for such violations of boating or fish and game laws of any such other
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state or this state shall have authority to make arrests on any part of any such waters lying between
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such states and to take the person or persons so arrested for trial to the state in which the violation
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was committed, for prosecution according to the laws of such state.
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(b) This section shall also apply and take effect if the state of Connecticut has such a law
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in effect as of the effective date of this section.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC006431
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FISHING
LAWS
***
1
This act would provide reciprocal enforcement of boating and fish and game laws with the
2
state of Connecticut on any part of waters lying between Connecticut and Rhode Island.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006431
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