Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 8013: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOBILE AND MANUFACTURED HOMES

Gives mobile home residents a right of first refusal to buy or lease their park, requiring owners to notify the residents’ association and the Department of Business Regulation of bona fide offers and allow time to match the terms.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingGives mobile home residents right of first refusal to buy/lease their park, preventing displacement and strengthening tenant protections in affordable housing.92% confidence

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 7803: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING -- STATE-FUNDED RENTAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM

HB 7803 establishes a state-funded rental subsidy program in Rhode Island to help extremely low, very low, and low-income households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It allocates $25 million from the state general fund (starting July 2026) to provide project-based rental assistance, meaning the subsidy is tied to specific housing units rather than individual tenants. The program requires that tenants pay no more than 30% of their gross income toward rent (after utility allowances), regardless of area median income thresholds, and prioritizes households referred through Rhode Island’s Continuum of Care or Olmstead Plan. The program will be administered by the state’s executive office of housing, ensuring units meet federal safety standards and comply with fair housing laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $25M from state general fund to fund housing subsidies for low-income households, advancing state budget for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes $25M state-funded rental subsidy for low-income households with 30% income rent cap, directly advancing affordable housing access and homelessness prevention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Housing Finance Renters Tenant Rights

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 8142: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RESIDENTIAL REUSE INCENTIVE ACT

Creates a state program and fund to finance adaptive reuse and mixed-use housing projects, requires affordable units and labor standards, and provides oversight to expand housing until 2035.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund for housing projects, aligns with funding essential programs under Budget & Taxes topic85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates state fund for adaptive reuse housing projects requiring affordable units and labor standards to expand housing until 2035.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Zoning

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2705: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

SB 2705 requires towns and cities to mandate that affordable housing units be included in certain new residential developments. It directly affects local governments, which must update zoning ordinances, and developers building qualifying projects. The key provision is that developers must provide a specified percentage of affordable units in eligible new construction, without requiring additional subsidies. The bill is still in early stages, having been introduced to the Senate Housing and Municipal Government committee on February 27, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates affordable housing units in new developments, directly advancing access without subsidies per bill's core provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 8036: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RESTORING OPTIONS IN OCCUPANCY MODELS

ROOM) ACT (Expands access to inherently affordable housing by re-legalizing co-living/single-room occupancy (SRO) and shared dwelling models of many types.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRe-legalizes co-living/SRO models, expanding inherently affordable housing access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Tenant Rights Zoning

Track

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 8141: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL TENANT'S RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION ACT

Creates the division of civil representation within the department of housing and require civil representation by a Designated Legal Organization to provide legal representation to all tenants who qualify in eviction proceedings.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates mandatory legal representation for qualifying tenants in eviction proceedings, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

Track

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 7774: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Amends the state building code and would require that the state adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and prohibit the state building committee from adopting amendments for one to four residential dwelling units until 2030.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits building code amendments for small residential units until 2030, limiting housing development flexibility and potential affordability efforts.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 8016: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

Allows the town of Johnston to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly enables a credit for affordable manufactured home units in age-restricted communities, directly advancing affordable housing access through financial incentive.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Zoning

Track

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 2248: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS

SB 2248 creates a new income-based discount program for low-income households to make home energy costs affordable. It requires large electric and gas utilities (over 100,000 customers) to design a tiered discount plan by 2027, capping energy costs at 3-6% of household income depending on whether electric or gas is the primary heat source. Eligible households (at or below 150% of the federal poverty level) would receive fixed monthly discounts, with past bill arrears forgiven over 24 months. The program’s costs, including administration, would be covered through rate increases for other utility customers, as determined by the Public Utilities Commission.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill creates income-based energy cost caps for low-income households, directly protecting utility consumers and advancing affordability - core support indicators for energy policy.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directly reduces energy costs for low-income households (at or below 150% federal poverty level), lowering a major housing expense and increasing affordability.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 16, 2026

SB 2165: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT 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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingGrants tenants fleeing abuse the right to terminate leases without penalty, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track