Rhode Island bill allows cities and towns to contract for state road maintenance

Original title: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE ROADS (Permits municipalities to enter into contracts with the department of transportation for the municipality to perform minor and routine maintenance work on state highways, roadways, and shoulders located within the municipality.)

Last action · March 3, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further studySponsors: Joseph McNamara and 4 others

Companion · S 2471same policy, Senate version

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

in Rhode Island are permitted to enter into agreements with the Department of Transportation to handle minor and routine maintenance work on state highways, roadways, and shoulders located within their borders.

Why it matters

Local governments gain the legal authority to take over routine upkeep of state-owned roads within their municipal boundaries, potentially altering how local and state agencies divide roadway maintenance responsibilities and labor.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Municipalities

Municipalities gain the authorization to enter into contracts with the department of transportation to perform minor and routine maintenance on state highways within their borders.

Directly affected

Department of Transportation

The department is authorized to enter into contracts with municipalities for the performance of minor and routine roadway maintenance.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can cities and towns perform maintenance on state roads under this measure?

Yes, are permitted to enter into contracts with the department of transportation to perform minor and routine maintenance work on state highways, roadways, and shoulders located within their borders.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

5 actions

Mar 3, 2026
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Feb 27, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/03/2026)
Feb 23, 2026
Meeting postponed (02/24/2026)
Feb 19, 2026
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
Feb 6, 2026Introduced
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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