Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H7309

Introduced
1/23/26  

Caption

Authorizes a property owner to pursue reasonable actions to protect their property from coastal hazards that affect life, infrastructure, or essential land uses without prior approval.

Impact

The bill signifies a shift towards empowering individual property owners with more autonomy regarding their coastal properties. By allowing property owners to act without prior consent, H7309 could expedite protection measures and encourage proactive steps in safeguarding essential infrastructure and public safety. However, it raises concerns regarding the potential for unregulated activities that could have adverse environmental impacts, particularly if property owners engage in extensive development or alteration without oversight.

Summary

House Bill H7309 aims to provide property owners in Rhode Island the authority to take necessary actions to protect their properties from coastal hazards that affect human life, infrastructure, or essential land uses without needing prior approval from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). This positions property owners to act swiftly and effectively in response to coastal threats, potentially improving safety and infrastructure resilience against disasters like flooding or erosion.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise regarding the adequacy of environmental protections and the balance between property rights and public interest. Critics may worry that uncoordinated actions by individual property owners could lead to unsustainable practices harming coastal ecosystems. Proponents argue that the bill facilitates necessary adaptations to climate risks without bureaucratic delays, but opponents may call for safeguards to ensure actions undertaken are consistent with broader environmental goals and community needs.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

RI H6011

Removes state-owned property from property exempt from local property taxes.

RI H5827

Requires a person selling real property to provide disclosures as it relates to flooding on the property which occurred either through natural events or mechanical failures.

RI H6291

Adds the property of the Pokanoket Management Group, Trustee of the Pokanoket Tribe Land Trust, to the list of property designated for appropriations in lieu of municipal property tax, would concurrently exempt such property from municipal property tax.

RI S1043

Adds the property of the Pokanoket Management Group, Trustee of the Pokanoket Tribe Land Trust, to the list of property designated for appropriations in lieu of municipal property tax, would concurrently exempt such property from municipal property tax.

RI S0141

Allows an owner or owners of real property to execute a deed that names one or more beneficiaries who will obtain title to the property at the owner's death without the necessity of probate.

RI S0775

Replaces the coastal resources management council with a state department of coastal resources and transfer all of the powers and duties between the two (2) authorities.

RI H5706

Replaces the coastal resources management council with a state department of coastal resources and transfer all of the powers and duties between the two (2) authorities.

RI H5294

Creates the Old Growth Forest Protection Act to provide protection for state-owned forestland in their natural state prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting in any forest on state-owned land.

RI S1120

Creates the Old Growth Forest Protection Act to provide protection for state-owned forestland in their natural state prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting in any forest on state-owned land.

RI S1107

Provides that comprehensive permit projects in Tiverton, involving property not connected to either public water or sewer or both, and for which the property is considered hydric said land be excluded from the building land calculation.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.