The bill amends Section 24-6-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-6 entitled "Abandonment by Towns" to include provisions for the town of Narragansett regarding the abandonment of highways or driftways. It authorizes the town council to declare a highway or driftway, or any part of it, as no longer useful to the public, allowing the title of the land to revert to its owner and relieving the town of maintenance responsibilities. The town council must place a sign indicating the abandonment and publish a notice in a local newspaper for three consecutive weeks, as well as provide personal notice to every known abutting landowner residing within the state. The amendment also specifies that private rights-of-way existing before the land was taken for a highway or driftway are not affected by this chapter.

The bill specifically inserts new legal language that allows the town of Narragansett, upon receiving a request from an abutting property owner, to sell the abandoned highway or driftway to that owner at fair market value. This provision aligns with similar provisions for other towns and cities mentioned in the existing law, such as Coventry, North Providence, New Shoreham, Barrington, Cranston, Warwick, Middletown, and Cumberland. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5597: 24-6-1