Provides Rhode Island residents over nonresidents with priority when making reservations to secure a campsite and other recreational facilities.

## Summary of Rhode Island Bill: Priority for Residents at State Campgrounds and Recreation Facilities

This bill would give Rhode Island residents a head start when booking campsites and other recreational facilities in the state's parks. Under the proposed law, residents would be able to make reservations before nonresidents get access to the booking system. The goal is to ensure that people who live in Rhode Island have a better chance of securing spots at popular state-managed campgrounds and recreational areas before out-of-state visitors can reserve them.

The bill would primarily affect two groups of people. Rhode Island residents would benefit by having first priority when reservation systems open up, making it easier for them to plan camping trips and outdoor activities at state facilities. Nonresidents — such as tourists or people from neighboring states like Massachusetts or Connecticut — would still be able to make reservations, but they would have to wait until after the resident priority window before they could book their spots. This could make it harder for out-of-state visitors to secure sites at the most popular or in-demand locations.

The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Finance Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. If passed, it would establish this resident-first reservation policy as part of the state's laws governing parks and recreational areas.