H 8470Cities & Towns

Towns and Cities - Low and Moderate Income Housing

This bill requires the Rhode Island housing authority to count and document Coventry's affordable housing units twice a year.

Held for study

Population
Affected

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Introduced Apr 17, 2026Committee House Municipal Government & Housing

Plain-English Summary

This bill requires the Rhode Island housing authority to count and document the number of affordable housing units located in the town of Coventry. The housing authority must perform this verification process two times every year.

For younger readers

This bill makes a rule for the group in charge of housing in Rhode Island. It says they have to count how many homes in the town of Coventry are affordable for people to live in. They must do this counting two times every year and write down the numbers.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Rhode Island housing authorityCoventry residentsLow and moderate-income individualsCoventry municipal officialsAffordable housing developers

Impacted communities

Coventry

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. This bill simply imposes an administrative documentation requirement on a state agency regarding public housing statistics. It does not implicate free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures accurate tracking of affordable housing availability in Coventry, which is crucial for supporting low-income individuals and families.
Promotes government transparency and accountability regarding social safety net programs by requiring documented, bi-annual housing stock verification.
Provides consistent data that can be used to advocate for systemic reforms and the expansion of affordable housing initiatives in the community.
The bill only targets the town of Coventry, failing to address the statewide need for comprehensive affordable housing tracking and expansion.
It merely requires counting and documenting the housing stock, lacking any mandates or funding to actually build more affordable homes for marginalized communities.
Focuses on administrative tasks and paperwork rather than directly assisting vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

For Conservatives

Focuses strictly on auditing and verifying existing government data, promoting accountability without necessarily expanding welfare programs.
Limits the bureaucratic mandate to a single town (Coventry), preventing a costly, statewide government tracking expansion.
Ensures local housing metrics are accurately documented, which could prevent the town from being unfairly penalized by state affordable housing mandates if they have already met their quotas.
Increases bureaucratic red tape by forcing a state agency to conduct bi-annual audits of local housing stock.
Represent a potential state-level intrusion into local municipal affairs by specifically targeting the town of Coventry.
Wastes taxpayer resources and state employee time on continuous administrative tracking rather than relying on private market solutions for housing.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 45-53 of the General Laws entitled "Low and Moderate Income Housing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 45-53-17. Affordable housing stock in Coventry. The Rhode Island housing authority shall verify and document the count of affordable housing stock in the town of Coventry two (2) times per year.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.