Cities & Towns
Browse Rhode Island bills in Cities & Towns with plain-language AI summaries.
Recent Bills
120 billsS3356AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR AND ALTERATION OF PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFORCities & TownsThis bill allows Cranston to issue $4 million in bonds to improve public playgrounds and athletic fields, pending voter approval.SenateEffective without Governor's signatureJun 5, 2026S3360AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE WARWICK CITY CHARTER TO ALLOW FOR ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES THAT SUBJECT MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS TO CERTAIN CODIFIED CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE CITY COUNCILCities & TownsThis bill lets Warwick voters decide if the city council can approve or reject the mayor's board and commission appointments.SenateSenate read and passedJun 5, 2026S3333THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICTCities & TownsThis bill redefines the geographical boundaries of the North Tiverton Fire District and reduces its number of tax assessors.SenateEffective without Governor's signatureMay 29, 2026S3319TOWNS AND CITIES -- ORDINANCESCities & TownsThis bill allows East Providence to require and regulate licenses for hotels, motels, boardinghouses, and catering establishments.SenateMeeting postponed (05/28/2026)May 26, 2026S3322AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR, ALTERATION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029Cities & TownsThis bill allows Pawtucket to borrow up to $5 million for public building improvements, pending voter approval.SenateSigned by GovernorMay 26, 2026S3321AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING LAND ACQUISITION AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029Cities & TownsThis bill lets Pawtucket voters decide whether to borrow $2,000,000 to build and improve public recreation facilities.SenateSigned by GovernorMay 26, 2026S3521AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO PROVIDE FOR THE RENOVATION, CONSTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE CITY INCLUDING LAND ACQUISITION AND AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING THEREOF, INCLUDING THE ISSUE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR, TO FUND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS 2028 AND 2029Cities & TownsThis bill allows Pawtucket to borrow up to $2 million for public recreation facilities, pending voter approval.SenateIntroducedMay 26, 2026H8580THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICTCities & TownsReduces the number of tax assessors on the North Tiverton Fire District's administrative board to four through attrition starting after 2026.HouseEffective without Governor's signatureMay 22, 2026S3316AaaREGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN MEETINGCities & TownsThis bill establishes new budget posting deadlines and rules for proposing financial changes at Scituate's annual town meeting.SenatePlaced on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)May 22, 2026S3303TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCESCities & TownsThis bill limits how many parking spaces cities and towns can require for attached single-family homes and transit-oriented apartments.SenateSigned by GovernorMay 15, 2026S3292TOWNS AND CITIES -- SUBDIVISION OF LANDCities & TownsThis bill extends the maximum time municipalities can require maintenance guarantees from developers from one year to two years.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMay 15, 2026H8546aaREGARDING MOTIONS AT THE TOWN OF SCITUATE ANNUAL FINANCIAL TOWN MEETINGCities & TownsRequires advance notice and ten signatures for motions changing Scituate's town budget by $10,000 or more at the annual financial town meeting.HousePlaced on House Calendar (06/11/2026)May 13, 2026S3254TOWNS AND CITIES -- STATE AIDCities & TownsGrants state payments to towns hosting federal Department of Defense facilities to offset lost local property tax revenue.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMay 5, 2026S3252TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLANCities & TownsReduces Central Falls police and firefighter pension contributions from 11.7% to 10% starting July 2026 and updates benefit agreements.SenateEffective without Governor's signatureMay 5, 2026S3241AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF NARRAGANSETT TO FINANCE THE EQUIPPING, EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENT AND RENOVATION OF FIRE STATIONS IN THE TOWN OF NARRAGANSETT AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFORCities & TownsThis bill allows Narragansett to borrow $3 million to improve and equip its fire stations, pending voter approval.SenateEffective without Governor's signatureMay 1, 2026H8506TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLANCities & TownsThis bill lowers pension contributions for Central Falls police and firefighters from 11.7% to 10% starting in July 2026.HouseEffective without Governor's signatureMay 1, 2026H8469TOWNS AND CITIES -- COVENTRY'S NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ACTCities & TownsThis bill sets strict approval deadlines for new housing developments in Coventry and updates how the town counts housing units.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 17, 2026H8471TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING-- PARKING SPACESCities & TownsThis bill allows Coventry to require two parking spaces per unit for certain low- or moderate-income housing developments.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 17, 2026H8470TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSINGCities & TownsThis bill requires the Rhode Island housing authority to count and document Coventry's affordable housing units twice a year.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 17, 2026H8416TOWNS AND CITIES -- SUBDIVISION OF LANDCities & TownsThis bill allows Coventry to require developers to guarantee the completion of private improvements before final project approval.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 8, 2026S3185ATOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTSCities & TownsThis bill protects the Wilson's Reservoir Dam Management District from lawsuits and allows Burrillville to waive its property taxes.SenatePlaced on House Calendar (06/10/2026)Apr 3, 2026H8368TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS -- TOWN OF HOPKINTON MUNICIPAL COURTCities & TownsThis bill allows the Hopkinton municipal court to hear appeals regarding the return of seized firearms by local police.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 27, 2026H8363TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCESCities & TownsThis bill lets cities and towns require private landlords to obtain a special license to rent to college students.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 27, 2026S3161TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCESCities & TownsThis bill allows Rhode Island cities and towns to require private landlords to obtain student housing licenses.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 27, 2026