H7223

General Assembly -- Permanent Joint Committee on Naming All New Buildings, Bridges, Edifices and Other State Constructions

This bill names a new dog park in Barrington's Haines Memorial State Park "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park."

Introduced

01/21/2026

Government: Government Assets

Bill Sponsors

Representative Jennifer Boylan

Committee

House Municipal Government & Housing

Last Action

03/31/2026
Signed by Governor

Summary

Select

This legislation officially designates a specific area within Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington, Rhode Island. Specifically, it names the new dog park located near the cove as "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park." The bill amends the existing General Laws regarding the Permanent Joint Committee on Naming All New Buildings, Bridges, Edifices and Other State Constructions to include this specific designation.

Sponsor

Analysis

Pros for Progressives

Recognizes and honors a specific individual, likely a community member, thereby fostering a sense of local history and community connection within public spaces.
Highlights the importance of public recreational areas, such as dog parks, which provide accessible outdoor spaces for residents and their pets to socialize.
Supports the formal designation of state park assets, ensuring that public lands remain well-defined and dedicated to community use.

Cons for Progressives

Represents a usage of legislative time and resources on symbolic naming measures rather than addressing substantive systemic issues affecting marginalized communities.
Incurs minor costs for new signage and administrative updates that could arguably be redirected toward maintenance or social services.
Lacks a public vetting process in the bill text to ensure the honoree aligns with progressive values of diversity and inclusion.

Pros for Conservatives

Preserves local heritage and tradition by formally memorializing an individual within the community through a dedicated public landmark.
Involves no expansion of government bureaucracy or regulatory overreach, strictly limiting the action to the naming of existing property.
Focuses on local community matters without imposing new taxes, mandates, or restrictions on personal liberty or business operations.

Cons for Conservatives

Utilizes legislative session time and taxpayer-funded administrative resources for a purely symbolic gesture rather than addressing fiscal or economic priorities.
Requires the expenditure of state funds for the fabrication and installation of new signage, contributing to government spending.
Reinforces the presence of state-owned land and facilities rather than encouraging private ownership or management of recreational areas.

Constitutional Concerns

None Likely

Impact Overview

Groups Affected

Dog owners
Park visitors
Barrington residents
Department of Environmental Management
Sign manufacturers

Towns Affected

Barrington

Cost to Taxpayers

Amount unknown

Revenue Generated

None

BillBuddy Impact Ratings

Importance

Measures population affected and overall level of impact.

Freedom Impact

Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.

Public Services

How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.

Regulatory

Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.

Clarity of Bill Language

100

How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.

Enforcement Provisions

100

Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).

Environmental Impact

Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.

Privacy Impact

Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.

Bill Status

Current Status

Held

Comm Passed

Floor Passed

Law

History

• 01/21/2026 Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
• 01/23/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/27/2026)
• 01/27/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 01/30/2026 Scheduled for consideration (02/03/2026)
• 02/03/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 02/03/2026 Placed on House Calendar (02/05/2026)
• 02/05/2026 House read and passed
• 02/06/2026 Referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
• 02/06/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/10/2026)
• 02/10/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
• 03/20/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (03/24/2026)
• 03/24/2026 Senate passed in concurrence
• 03/26/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 03/31/2026 Signed by Governor

Bill Text

SECTION 1. Chapter 22-7.4 of the General Laws entitled "Permanent Joint Committee on Naming All New Buildings, Bridges, Edifices and Other State Constructions" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
22-7.4-160. The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park.
The new coveside dog park located at Haines Memorial State Park in the town of Barrington, shall be named and known as "The Christine Conrad Lane Memorial Dog Park".

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.