RI House unanimously passes shoreline access bill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The RI House unanimously passed a bill Thursday to guarantee shoreline access.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend and Minority Leader Blake Filippi.

The legislation defines where members of the public can enjoy the shore. It establishes the public access point as starting six feet landward from the recognizable high tide.

“Our commission put a great deal of care into this legislation, working with experts, advocates and property owners to develop a reasonable definition of the public shoreline’s edge that will protect

Rhode Islander’s constitutional right without taking private property,” said Cortvriend.

The right to access the shoreline has bene part of the state’s Constitution since 1843, but the boundary where public and private property begins has been long-debated since.

“Our shoreline access rights are so important to this Ocean State that we have seen fit to codify them as fundamental constitutional rights. This bill ensures that there is enough beach area for those rights to be exercised. Without this legislation being passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, our constitutional shoreline access rights will remain an illusion,” said Filippi.

The bill now heads to the Senate.