Housing
Browse Rhode Island bills in Housing with plain-language AI summaries.
Recent Bills
74 billsS3298PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTSHousingRequires government agencies to give 20 days' written notice before removing homeless encampments from public property, with safety exceptions.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMay 15, 2026H8468STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998HousingThis bill updates affordable housing rules for New Shoreham and creates a four-year pilot program for moderate-income home buyers.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 17, 2026H8403AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF JAMESTOWN TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFORHousingAuthorizes Jamestown to issue up to $3 million in bonds to fund affordable housing projects, subject to voter approval in November 2026.HouseEffective without Governor's signatureApr 3, 2026S3186AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF JAMESTOWN TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFORHousingThis bill allows Jamestown to issue up to $3 million in bonds for affordable housing, pending voter approval.SenateEffective without Governor's signatureApr 3, 2026H8385PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACTHousingThis bill expands the rules for sealing eviction court records, especially for tenants who win their cases or are young.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyApr 1, 2026H8249TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSINGHousingAffordable housing units will now count toward a town's state quotas as soon as a building permit is issued.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 6, 2026S3019MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $200,000 TO THE HOUSING NETWORK: THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION OF NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS, DBA HOUSING NETWORK OF RHODE ISLANDHousingThis resolution appropriates $200,000 to the Housing Network of Rhode Island to support affordable housing and homelessness response initiatives.SenateCommittee heardMar 5, 2026S2898STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998HousingAdjusts affordable housing criteria for Block Island and North Providence and creates a pilot program for moderate-income homebuyer loans.SenateIntroduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal GovernmentMar 4, 2026S2894STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998HousingThis bill creates a pilot program allowing moderate-income families to carry higher debt-to-income ratios to qualify for affordable homeownership.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 4, 2026S2972PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL TENANT'S RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION ACTHousingThis bill guarantees free legal representation for eligible tenants facing eviction and creates a state division to manage the program.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 4, 2026S2893PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACTHousingThis bill removes the ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent when landlords fail to comply with lead registry laws.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 4, 2026S2901TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODEHousingTenants must pay rent into a holding account, not to the landlord, if housing code violations remain uncorrected after a warning.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 4, 2026S2895TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCESHousingThis bill modifies affordable housing rules, linking density bonuses to on-site construction and regulating fees paid in lieu of building.SenateSenate read and passedMar 4, 2026S2911HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENTHousingAllows property owners to hire independent inspectors if government officials fail to inspect within twenty days of notification.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyMar 4, 2026S2917STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998HousingThis bill adjusts affordable housing calculations for Smithfield and New Shoreham and creates a pilot program for home loan underwriting.SenateIntroduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal GovernmentMar 4, 2026H8021HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- RHODE ISLAND INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACTHousingStarting July 2027, new residential construction must meet specific accessibility standards to accommodate people with physical disabilities.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026H8016STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998HousingAdjusts affordable housing income limits for New Shoreham and creates a pilot program with flexible underwriting for moderate-income homebuyers.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026H8002HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODEHousingThis bill updates the building code to allow four-story residential buildings with up to sixteen units to have a single staircase.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026S2690TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSINGHousingUpdates the state affordable housing database to include moderate-income units, mandates property owner participation, and adds user alert features.SenateSigned by GovernorFeb 27, 2026S2696TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSINGHousingAllows affordable housing units to be counted toward state goals upon permit issuance and establishes specific density bonuses for developers.SenateIntroduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal GovernmentFeb 27, 2026S2705TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCESHousingRequires developers to build affordable units rather than paying fees to avoid it, and prevents towns from limiting bedroom counts.SenateCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026H8141PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL TENANT'S RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION ACTHousingThis bill guarantees free legal representation for eligible tenants facing eviction and creates a state division to manage the program.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026H8001AHEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENTHousingThis bill allows towns to build temporary "SAFE Units" for homeless individuals by bypassing standard building and zoning codes.HousePlaced on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026)Feb 27, 2026H8142STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESIDENTIAL REUSE INCENTIVE ACTHousingEstablishes financial incentives to convert vacant commercial and public buildings into residential housing, requiring specific labor and affordability standards.HouseCommittee recommended measure be held for further studyFeb 27, 2026