AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS (Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes.)

S3185A

2026 -- S 3185 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC006271/SUB A
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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

Introduced By:
Senator Jessica de la Cruz

Date Introduced:
April 03, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 45-62-5.1 and 45-62-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-62 entitled
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"Dam Management Districts" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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45-62-5.1. Immunity from civil liability.
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(a)
Pascoag Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be
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immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Pascoag Reservoir Dam
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Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.
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(b) Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District created pursuant to this chapter shall be
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immune from civil liability for any tort committed upon any lake bed the Wilson's Reservoir Dam
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Management District may acquire, hold, use or lease pursuant to § 45-62-3.
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45-62-7. Exemption from real and personal property taxes.
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(a)
The towns of Burriville and Glocester are authorized to enact ordinances which exempt
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from taxation real and personal property owned by a Dam Management District created pursuant
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to this chapter, said exemption to be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of the Pascoag
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Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake and property on which any dam, spillway and any appurtenant
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structures may be located as the same relate to the Pascoag Reservoir, also known as Echo Lake.
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(b)(1) The town of Burrillville may by ordinance exempt from taxation real and personal
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property owned by a dam management district created pursuant to this chapter, said exemptions to
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be limited to property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir (Burrillville assessor’s
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map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064), and property on which any dam,

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spillway and any appurtenant structures may be located as the same relate to the Wilson’s
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Reservoir.
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(2) With respect to the town of Burrillville, collection of dam management district fees
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shall be in the same manner as provided by law for the collection of taxes by municipalities and the
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collector of fees for said management district and have the same powers and authority as are by
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law conferred on collection of taxes for towns in the state.
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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
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This act would exempt property that consists of the lake bed of Wilson’s Reservoir
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(Burrillville assessor’s map 138, lot 041; map 016, lot 038; and map 156, lot 064) in the town of
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Burrillville from taxation. Additionally, this act would mandate in the town of Burrillville the
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collection of dam management district fees to be in the same manner as collection of taxes by
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municipalities and would add the lake bed Wilson’s Reservoir to the immunity from civil liability
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for any fort committed on the property.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC006271/SUB A
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LC006271/SUB A - Page 3 of 3