Rhode Island

Select State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

• Failed to pass legislative reform.

 

50 State Report Card		50 State Report Card Grade
50 State Report Card: Tracking Eminent Domain Reform Legislation since Kelo
Read: Rhode Island Chapter Read: Entire Report
Current Abuses		Bills
Overview

Senate Bill 2155 (2006) would have limited takings for economic development. After a lengthy struggle in the Senate, it finally moved to the House, where it died with the end of session on June 23, 2006.

SB 2728A (2008), which was signed by Gov. Don Carcieri on July 2, 2008,  does little more than provide local governments a roadmap for using eminent domain for private economic development.  The provision requiring that property owners receive at least 150% of fair market value in compensation is all that prevents the state’s attempt at reform from receiving an F.
Rhode Island continues to need substantive reforms, including a strong definition of public use and a narrow definition of blight.