Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee passes shoreline access bill

The Home Judiciary Committee handed the shoreline entry invoice Thursday night time. One of many invoice’s sponsors, Rep. Terri Cortvriend, says she expects it would come to the complete Home subsequent week for a flooring dialogue and vote. 

The invoice is an amended model of the unique laws that got here out of a fee shaped final 12 months to review shoreline entry. It defines the place the general public may be alongside Rhode Island’s shore as being as much as 6 ft landward from the wrack line the place seaweed and different particles wash up. The sooner model set the edge at 10 ft landward. 

The invoice says beachgoers can train their shoreline rights on moist or dry sand and rocky seaside, however these rights don’t prolong to the place there is no such thing as a satisfactory shore, rocky cliffs, sea partitions, or land above the vegetation line. 

Rhode Island’s Structure ensures so-called privileges of the shore, like fishing, passing and gathering seaweed, however doesn’t particularly define the place these rights apply. Disputes between beachgoers and property house owners over the place the general public may be have led to growing requires legislative motion lately. 

Alex Nunes may be reached at anunes@thepublicsradio.org