Establishes a marina users' bill of rights allowing recourse through the consumer protection unit of the Rhode Island attorney general's office as well as civil causes of action.

Rhode Island Marina Users' Bill of Rights – Plain English Summary

This bill would create a formal set of rights for people who use marinas in Rhode Island — meaning anyone who docks, stores, or moors a boat at a marina facility. The bill establishes clear standards that marina operators would be required to follow in how they treat their customers, similar to how consumer protection laws set rules for other types of businesses. The specific rights listed in the bill would define what marina users can reasonably expect when it comes to things like contracts, fees, services, and fair treatment.

If a marina operator violates these rights, the bill gives boat owners two main ways to seek help. First, they could file a complaint through the Consumer Protection Unit of the Rhode Island Attorney General's office, which would investigate and potentially take action against the marina. Second, individuals could also take the marina to civil court on their own to seek compensation or other remedies. This gives marina users meaningful options if they feel they've been treated unfairly.

This bill primarily affects recreational and commercial boat owners who rely on marinas for docking and storage, as well as marina businesses operating in Rhode Island. Marina operators would need to ensure their practices meet the new legal standards, while customers would gain clearer legal protections. As of now, the bill has been postponed at the request of its sponsor, so it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process.