Bill Sponsors
Representative Megan L. Cotter
Committee
House Environment and Natural Resources
Summary
Select
This bill allows law enforcement officers from Rhode Island and Connecticut to arrest people for breaking boating, fishing, or hunting laws in the waters shared between the two states. Officers from either state can make an arrest anywhere in these shared boundary waters. The arrested person will then be taken to the state where the crime happened to face trial. This rule only goes into effect if Connecticut has or passes a similar law allowing the same shared enforcement.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Enhances the protection of shared natural resources by ensuring environmental, fishing, and conservation regulations are consistently enforced in boundary waters.
- Improves public safety on the water by increasing the pool of officers available to respond to boating violations or maritime emergencies in shared areas.
- Promotes government efficiency and interstate cooperation, ensuring that jurisdictional loopholes do not prevent accountability for environmental damage or unsafe behavior.
Cons for Progressives
- Expands police authority and cross-border jurisdiction, which could lead to increased encounters with law enforcement and potential over-policing in recreational areas.
- Could create confusion for individuals regarding which state's laws apply to them at any given moment, potentially leading to unfair arrests for minor regulatory differences.
- Increased enforcement and resulting fines for fishing violations could disproportionately impact low-income individuals who rely on fishing for food or affordable recreation.
Pros for Conservatives
- Strengthens the rule of law by closing jurisdictional loopholes that allow individuals to evade arrest by simply crossing the state line on the water.
- Maximizes the use of existing law enforcement resources without requiring the state to spend taxpayer money to hire additional officers to patrol the border.
- Represents a voluntary, state-level agreement to solve local issues, avoiding the need for federal government intervention or oversight in state boundary waters.
Cons for Conservatives
- Increases government policing of recreational activities like boating and fishing, potentially infringing on personal freedoms and the unhindered enjoyment of the outdoors.
- Allows out-of-state officers to exercise police powers over Rhode Island citizens, which some may view as a violation of state sovereignty.
- May subject boaters and fishermen to confusing, overlapping regulations and strict enforcement from officers who might be unfamiliar with the nuances of the other state's specific laws.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. Interstate compacts and reciprocal enforcement agreements for boundary waters are common and generally recognized as constitutional under the Compact Clause. Due process is maintained by explicitly requiring trials to occur in the state where the violation was committed, ensuring proper legal jurisdiction is respected.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Boaters
- Fishermen
- Hunters
- Conservation officers
- Law enforcement personnel
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
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
• 05/06/2026 Introduced, referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Chapter 20-23 of the General Laws entitled "Reciprocal Enforcement of Fishing Laws" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
20-23-2. Enforcement in state boundary waters of boating or fish and game laws.
(a) If and when the state of Connecticut enacts a similar law for arrest and punishment for violations of boating or fish and game laws of this state, or of the state of Connecticut, committed or attempted to be committed by any person or persons boating or fishing in that portion of any waters lying between Connecticut and this state, any game protector, conservation officer, fish and game warden, special conservation officer, patrolman or other person of either state who is authorized to make arrests for such violations of boating or fish and game laws of any such other state or this state shall have authority to make arrests on any part of any such waters lying between such states and to take the person or persons so arrested for trial to the state in which the violation was committed, for prosecution according to the laws of such state.
(b) This section shall also apply and take effect if the state of Connecticut has such a law in effect as of the effective date of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
20-23-2. Enforcement in state boundary waters of boating or fish and game laws.
(a) If and when the state of Connecticut enacts a similar law for arrest and punishment for violations of boating or fish and game laws of this state, or of the state of Connecticut, committed or attempted to be committed by any person or persons boating or fishing in that portion of any waters lying between Connecticut and this state, any game protector, conservation officer, fish and game warden, special conservation officer, patrolman or other person of either state who is authorized to make arrests for such violations of boating or fish and game laws of any such other state or this state shall have authority to make arrests on any part of any such waters lying between such states and to take the person or persons so arrested for trial to the state in which the violation was committed, for prosecution according to the laws of such state.
(b) This section shall also apply and take effect if the state of Connecticut has such a law in effect as of the effective date of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.