Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2657: JOINT RESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS O
Status: In committee, June 5, 2026
JOINT RESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS ON RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC WATERWAYS (Urges DEM to study and regulate the impact of wake boats on Rhode Island public waterways.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- S 2657 ======== LC005412 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ JOINTRESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS ON RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC WATERWAYS Introduced By: Senators de la Cruz, Tikoian, Raptakis, and Rogers Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to at least 237 freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs covering approximately 18,845 acres, many of which serve as drinking water sources, wildlife habitats, flood control resources, and vital recreational areas for residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, Approximately seventy percent of Rhode Island's lakes are fifty acres or less in size, and only four exceed five hundred acres, making the vast majority of the State's freshwater bodies small and particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbance; and WHEREAS, Wake boats are specialized motorized vessels intentionally designed to generate large, powerful waves through the use of deep V-shaped hulls, hydrofoil devices, and ballast systems that may add between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds of additional weight; and WHEREAS, Scientific research has documented that wake boats can produce waves two to three times higher, generate three to nine times more wave energy, and in some studies up to seventeen times the energy of comparable recreational powerboats; and WHEREAS, Wake boat propellers …
Sponsors
- Jessica de la Cruz (R, SD-023) · primary sponsor
- David Tikoian (D, SD-022)
- Leonidas Raptakis (D, SD-033)
- Gordon Rogers (R, SD-021)
Latest actions
- : Referred to House State Government & Elections
- : Senate read and passed
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to Senate Environment and Agriculture
Votes
- Senate Seq #382: (June 4, 2026): 37 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture: Passage (June 2, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Environment & Agriculture: Passage (April 15, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: RESOLUTIONS -- JOINT
Common questions
- What is S2657?
- S2657 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): JOINT RESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS O.
- What does S2657 do?
- JOINT RESOLUTION URGING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO STUDY AND REGULATE THE IMPACT OF WAKE BOATS ON RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC WATERWAYS (Urges DEM to study and regulate the impact of wake boats on Rhode Island public waterways.)
- What is the status of S2657?
- In committee as of June 5, 2026. Latest action: Referred to House State Government & Elections (June 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2657?
- Jessica de la Cruz (R, SD-023), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2657?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2657.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.