Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8613: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporat
Status: In committee, June 4, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, June 4, 2026:
2026 -- H 8613 ======== LC006560 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT Introduced By: Representatives Lima, Costantino, Read, and Cotter Date Introduced: June 04, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 42-82-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-82 entitled "Farmland Preservation Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 42-82-16. Charges for utility extension. (a) No city, town, quasi-municipal corporation, or public corporation may assess the owner of an agricultural operation having frontage on a public roadway for the extension of water and sewer utilities past the property. (b)"Connection fees", for purposes of this section, mean any impact fee or connection fee or any other fee designed to circumvent the prohibition contained in this section. "Connection fee" shall not include any administrative, overhead, or equipment fee or the construction costs related to extension of or connection to a water main. (c) No city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation shall assess the owner of an agricultural operation as defined in § 2-23-4, or agricultural land as defined in § 42-82-2, in existence as of July 1, 2026 and having frontage on a public roadway, a connection fee for the extension of …
Sponsors
- Charlene Lima (D, HD-014) · primary sponsor
- Gregory Costantino (D)
- Earl Read (D, HD-026)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
Latest actions
- : Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
Subjects: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT
Common questions
- What is H8613?
- H8613 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporat.
- What does H8613 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee.)
- What is the status of H8613?
- In committee as of June 4, 2026. Latest action: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (June 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8613?
- Charlene Lima (D, HD-014), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8613?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8613.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.