2025 -- H 5229
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE
CORPORATION -- HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Boylan, Giraldo, Tanzi, Cortvriend, Ajello,
Potter, and McGaw
Date Introduced: January 29, 2025
Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 42-64 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Commerce 1
Corporation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
42-64-13.3. Rhode Island housing champion designation. 3
(a) The commerce corporation shall develop a Rhode Island housing champion designation 4
program for all qualifying municipalities. The Rhode Island housing champion designation 5
program shall be voluntary. Each municipality shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to apply 6
to the commerce corporation to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation. In 7
exchange for obtaining the Rhode Island housing champion designation, a municipality shall 8
receive preferential access to state resources including, but not limited to, discretionary state 9
infrastructure funds, as available. 10
(b) The corporation shall adopt rules to establish qualifications and procedures for a 11
municipality to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation. The designation procedure 12
shall be based on a scoring system. 13
(c) Qualifications to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation shall include: 14
(1) Adoption of such land use regulations and ordinances which the corporation determines 15
to be necessary to promote the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing 16
necessary for the economic development of the state. In this subsection, "land use regulations and 17
ordinances" may include, but are not limited to, zoning ordinances to innovative land use controls, 18
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subdivision and the site plan regulations. 1
(2) Training of planning and zoning board members using, training materials and programs, 2
provided by the department that cover the processes, procedures, regulations, and statutes related 3
to the board on which the member serves; approved by the corporation. 4
(3) Implementation of sewer and water infrastructure improvements intended to support 5
the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing necessary for the economic 6
development of the state. 7
(4) Implementation of public transportation, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure 8
intended to support the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing necessary 9
for the economic development of the state. 10
(d) Qualifications to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation may also 11
include, but are not limited to adoption of financial tools that incentivize the development of 12
workforce housing, including adoption of the community revitalization tax relief incentive program 13
and establishment of municipal economic development and revitalization districts. 14
(e) Municipalities that receive a Rhode Island housing champion designation, shall 15
annually report in a form required by the department. The annual report shall include such measures 16
as the corporation may determine including, but not limited to, land use board applications, 17
approvals and building permits. 18
(f) A Rhode Island housing champion designation shall be valid for three (3) years from 19
the date such designation is awarded. A municipality may seek renewal of its Rhode Island housing 20
champion designation for subsequent three (3) year periods. The corporation shall include in the 21
criteria for renewal performance metrics including, but not limited to, the qualifications listed in 22
subsection ยง 42-64-13.3 (c). 23
(g) Each year the corporation shall develop a report which describes all actions taken 24
related to the operation of the Rhode Island housing champion designation program in the 25
preceding state fiscal year and assesses the overall impact of the Rhode Island housing champion 26
designation program, including an assessment of the additional housing units produced in the state 27
as a result of the program's operation and incentives. The report required by this section shall be 28
submitted to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the 29
senate on or before November 1 of each year, beginning in 2026, and upon such submission, the 30
report shall be posted online on the website of the department. 31
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 32
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND COMMERCE
CORPORATION -- HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
***
This act would authorize the establishment of a Rhode Island housing champion 1
designation program. This program would make qualified municipalities eligible to receive 2
preferential access to state resources, including discretionary state infrastructure funds, as available. 3
This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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