Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blithewold, Inc., located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would exempt Blithewold, Inc. from paying property taxes on the real estate and physical property (such as buildings, equipment, and other tangible items) it owns at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island. Blithewold is a historic mansion and arboretum — a publicly accessible estate and garden — that operates as a nonprofit organization. If passed, this exemption would apply going forward, meaning Blithewold would no longer owe property taxes to the town of Bristol on that location.

The primary parties affected are Blithewold, Inc. itself, which would benefit financially by no longer having a property tax obligation, and the town of Bristol, which would lose whatever tax revenue it currently collects from that property. Rhode Island state law generally requires specific legislative approval for this type of exemption, which is why it is being handled through a standalone bill rather than through a local decision alone.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government Committee. As of now, the committee has recommended the bill be "held for further study," meaning lawmakers are not yet ready to move it forward and want more time to review it before taking action. It is scheduled for further consideration in March 2026.

It's worth noting that tax exemptions like this are fairly common for nonprofit historic or cultural organizations, though the financial impact on the host municipality is always a key consideration in the debate.