Bill Sponsors
Raptakis, and Rogers
Committee
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
Summary
Select
This bill changes how rental fees collected by the Rhode Island Water Resources Board are distributed. Specifically, it concerns fees collected from the Coventry Pines Golf Club or through agreements with the town of Coventry. Instead of the Water Resources Board keeping all the revenue, this legislation mandates that 20% of these fees be redirected. Of that portion, half (10% of the total) will be paid to the town of Coventry, and the other half (10% of the total) will be paid to the Central Coventry Fire District.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Directs financial resources to the Central Coventry Fire District, supporting essential public safety services and first responders.
- Provides additional revenue to the town of Coventry, which can be used to improve local infrastructure and social services for residents.
- Ensures that revenue generated from local land use is reinvested directly into the community to offset local impacts.
Cons for Progressives
- Reduces the budget of the Water Resources Board, potentially limiting the state's ability to manage and protect vital water resources and the environment.
- Prioritizes local municipal funding over statewide environmental conservation efforts by diverting agency revenue.
- May set a precedent for stripping funding from state regulatory agencies to plug gaps in local municipal budgets.
Pros for Conservatives
- Supports the Central Coventry Fire District, upholding the traditional value of prioritizing police, fire, and emergency services.
- Promotes local control by ensuring that revenue generated within a municipality stays there rather than being absorbed by a centralized state bureaucracy.
- Reduces the financial holdings of an unelected state regulatory board, returning funds to local taxpayers' direct representatives.
Cons for Conservatives
- Merely shuffles money between different government entities rather than reducing the overall size or cost of government.
- Implicitly accepts and perpetuates government ownership of non-essential commercial assets (a golf course) instead of advocating for privatization.
- Creates a rigid statutory mandate for revenue distribution that limits fiscal flexibility and complicates the state budget process.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Town of Coventry
- Central Coventry Fire District
- Water Resources Board
- Coventry Pines Golf Club
- Coventry Taxpayers
Towns Affected
Coventry
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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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
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Enforcement Provisions
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Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Chapter 46-15 of the General Laws entitled "Water Resources Management" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
46-15-25. Rental fees.
Twenty percent (20%) of all rental fees collected by the water resources board pursuant to a lease agreement with the Coventry Pines Golf Club or a memorandum of understanding with the town of Coventry, shall be remitted as follows:
(1) Ten percent (10%) to the town of Coventry; and
(2) Ten percent (10%) to the Central Coventry Fire District.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
46-15-25. Rental fees.
Twenty percent (20%) of all rental fees collected by the water resources board pursuant to a lease agreement with the Coventry Pines Golf Club or a memorandum of understanding with the town of Coventry, shall be remitted as follows:
(1) Ten percent (10%) to the town of Coventry; and
(2) Ten percent (10%) to the Central Coventry Fire District.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.