Provides minor technical changes, including an update to the membership of the state planning council to include the secretary of housing or designee, and provides clarifying language relating to the role of the technical committee.
Impact
This bill is poised to impact state laws by streamlining the planning processes that are essential for the coordinated development of infrastructure across the state. The involvement of the secretary of housing signifies a broader understanding of the interconnections between housing and municipal infrastructure needs. As a result, this could lead to more cohesive state-level planning that adequately addresses both the housing and infrastructure needs of local communities.
Summary
S2821 is a legislative act introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly which aims to amend the Rhode Island Municipal Infrastructure Grant Program. The bill mainly focuses on minor technical changes in the current legislation. One significant update includes the expansion of the membership of the state planning council to incorporate the secretary of housing or their designee, which reflects a shift towards integrating housing concerns into state planning processes. Additionally, the bill provides clarifying language regarding the roles of the technical committee associated with the planning council.
Contention
While the changes proposed by S2821 are mostly technical and aimed at improving efficiency, some local leaders and community advocacy groups could express concerns regarding the potential for increased state oversight over local planning decisions. The emphasis on housing in the planning council’s composition might result in debates on how housing policies interact with other forms of municipal planning. Therefore, the bill could generate discussions about the balance between state guidance and local autonomy in planning matters.
Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $25,000,000 To The Rhode Island Division Of Statewide Planning (ridsp) To Fund The Statewide Bicycle Mobility Plan (bmp) (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $25,000,000 To The Rhode Island Division Of Statewide Planning To Fund The Bicycle Mobility Plan.)