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HB 7800

AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- RHODE ISLAND INFRASTRUCTURE BANK

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Boylan and 5 co-sponsors

Rhode Island establishes dedicated infrastructure bank to finance water and navigation projects, creating alternative funding mechanism beyond traditional appropriations.

02/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7800

Legislative bill overview

HB 7800 establishes a Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank focused on waters and navigation projects. The bill creates a financing mechanism to fund water-related infrastructure improvements and navigation improvements across the state. This represents a structural approach to addressing water infrastructure needs through a dedicated banking institution rather than traditional appropriations.

Why is this important

Water infrastructure deterioration affects public health, environmental quality, and economic development in Rhode Island. By creating a specialized infrastructure bank, the state aims to accelerate funding for critical projects like stormwater systems, wastewater treatment, and navigational improvements while potentially leveraging private capital. This approach allows for more efficient project financing and management than annual legislative appropriations.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source uncertainty – The bill's details on how the infrastructure bank will be capitalized (state bonds, federal grants, private investment) are not specified in available summaries, raising questions about actual cost to taxpayers
  • Project selection criteria – Unclear governance structure and decision-making processes for which water/navigation projects receive priority funding could lead to political favoritism or unequal regional distribution
  • Scope ambiguity – "Waters and navigation" is broad; stakeholders may disagree on whether this includes drinking water systems, recreational boating, commercial ports, or all categories, affecting implementation priorities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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