| Chapter 347 |
| 2025 -- H 6136 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/01/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION |
Introduced By: Representative Sherry Roberts |
| Date Introduced: March 26, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 44-3 of the General Laws entitled "Property Subject to Taxation" is |
| hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 44-3-9.8.1. Exemption or stabilization of tax on qualified property used for residential |
| purposes in the town of West Greenwich. |
| (a) Except as provided in this section, in order address the longstanding challenges faced |
| by the town of West Greenwich to meet state and local needs for low- and moderate-income |
| housing pursuant to the provisions of chapter 53 of title 45 and the town of West Greenwich code |
| of ordinances, the town council of the town of West Greenwich may vote to authorize, subject to |
| the conditions in this section, to exempt from payment, in whole or in part, real qualified property, |
| or to determine a stabilized amount, notwithstanding the valuation of the property or the rate of tax, |
| provided that after a public hearing, ten (10) days' notice of which shall be published in a newspaper |
| of general circulation in the town, and upon a determination by the town council that the granting |
| of the exemption and/or stabilization of taxes for a qualified property shall inure to the benefit of |
| the town of West Greenwich including, without limitation, by reason of the town of West |
| Greenwich achieving, exceeding, or furthering its realization of its goal of ten percent (10%) of its |
| year round housing units constituting low- and moderate-income housing units pursuant to the |
| provisions of chapter 53 of title 45. |
| (b) For purposes of this section, "qualifying property" means property for which there is |
| an approved comprehensive permit project pursuant to chapter 53 of title 45, in which final plan |
| approval has been recorded. Qualified property may be comprised of one or more contiguous lots |
| and may have multiple owners. Nothing in this section shall prevent the town from approving any |
| exemption or agreement under this section prior to final plan approval and recording, so long as |
| the period in which the taxes are exempt and/or stabilized does not begin until the final plan is |
| recorded. |
| (c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the town council may vote to |
| authorize an agreement under this section for a period of up to thirty (30) years. |
| (d) Except as otherwise provided in this section, property for which taxes have been |
| exempted and/or stabilized, in whole or in part, pursuant to this section shall not, during the period |
| for which taxes have been so exempted and/or stabilized, be further liable to taxation by the town |
| as long as such property shall remain qualified property as defined in this section. |
| (e) Notwithstanding this section, owners of qualifying low-income housing in the town of |
| West Greenwich under §44-5-13.11 shall be entitled to the tax treatment provided under such |
| section and may, but need not, seek or obtain tax exemption and/or stabilization under this section. |
| With respect to all qualifying low-income housing in the town of West Greenwich under the |
| provisions of §44-5-13.11, the town council's grant of exemption and/or stabilization under this |
| section shall result in taxation of such qualifying low-income housing that is no less favorable than |
| the taxation otherwise provided under §44-5-13. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002545/SUB A |
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