Housing

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2690: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Amends the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and eliminates the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low or moderate income housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands housing assistance eligibility to moderate-income households by eliminating income percentage thresholds, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 8110: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

Requires owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to disclose shoreline access rights to tenants, enhancing tenant awareness and protection for a specific right under tenant protections within housing policy.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7199: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT

Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent. Effective 7/1/26.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingGrants abuse victims right to terminate leases without penalty, strengthening tenant protections per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2291: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT

Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent. Effective 7/1/26.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingGrants abuse victims tenant right to terminate leases early without penalty, strengthening tenant protections under housing policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 11, 2026

HB 7777: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS--WARWICK MUNICIPAL COURT

HB 7777 expands the Warwick municipal court's authority to handle cases involving zoning violations, housing maintenance codes, building regulations, and related local ordinances. The bill removes the court's power to impose jail sentences, restricting penalties to fines of up to $500 per violation. It also grants the court the ability to order repairs or corrective actions for housing code violations, such as fixing unsafe dwellings. This change directly affects residents and property owners in Warwick who face enforcement under these housing, building, and zoning codes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates court-ordered repairs for unsafe housing code violations, strengthening tenant safety protections without jail penalties. Directly addresses housing maintenance enforcement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 8403: AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF JAMESTOWN TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Proposes a bond measure to authorize the Town of Jamestown to issue up to three million dollars ($3,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to support affordable housing projects in Jamestown.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $3M in bonds to fund affordable housing, directly increasing public spending on essential community services.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes bonds to fund affordable housing projects, directly advancing the topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 8402: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PERMANENT JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING AND MULTI-SECTOR PLAN ON AGING

This bill creates a permanent joint commission made up of state legislators, agency officials, and community members to guide planning for Rhode Island's aging population. The commission will develop and update a comprehensive multi-sector plan covering housing, transportation, healthcare, and economic security for older adults and people with disabilities. To ensure diverse input, the group includes public members with lived experience, and it must hold regular public meetings while submitting annual progress reports to government leaders. The plan is designed to help different parts of government work together to support aging in place and improve services for seniors across the state.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates a commission to develop a multi-sector plan explicitly including housing for aging and disabled populations, aiming to strengthen housing access.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 8215: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT

HB 8215 would allow tenants with disabilities to formally request permission to keep emotional support animals in rental housing under Rhode Island's Fair Housing Practices Act. This directly affects renters with disabilities who rely on emotional support animals and landlords who manage rental properties. The key provision requires landlords to consider such requests without automatically denying them, aligning with fair housing standards. The bill does not guarantee approval but establishes a process for tenants to seek accommodations for their disability-related needs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProtects tenant rights for disability-related housing accommodations under fair housing law by requiring landlords to consider emotional support animal requests without automatic denial.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Rhode Island · House May 22, 2026

HB 8000: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

HB 8000 requires local agencies to provide at least 15 days' written notice to people living in outdoor encampments on public property before removing or relocating them. This applies to homeless individuals and their belongings in temporary shelters, directly affecting those residing in such encampments. Exceptions to the notice requirement include immediate public safety risks (like active construction sites, environmental hazards, or infrastructure repairs). The bill mandates agencies also notify local homelessness outreach services when providing notice, unless one of the five safety exceptions applies. It takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires 15-day notice before relocating homeless individuals from encampments, directly protecting vulnerable residents and addressing homelessness through tenant rights safeguards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Rhode Island · House May 22, 2026

HB 8006: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

HB 8006 establishes a special 8% property tax rate for qualifying affordable housing in Rhode Island, instead of standard local tax rates. To qualify, properties must have legal agreements restricting rents to 30% of tenant income for households at or below 80% of area median income (for 40% of units) or 60% AMI (for 30% of units). Conversions of existing non-residential buildings to housing qualify until 2037, with tax rates gradually increasing from 8% to 12% over 30 years. This directly affects property owners of qualifying affordable housing and local governments setting tax policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes 8% property tax rate for affordable housing targeting low-income renters (30%/60% AMI), providing tax relief for qualifying properties per fiscal policy indicators.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates 8% property tax rate for affordable housing with income-based rent restrictions (30% of income for 40% units at 80% AMI), incentivizing development and tenant protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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