2025 -- H 5229

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-64 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Commerce

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Corporation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     42-64-13.3. Rhode Island housing champion designation.

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     (a) The commerce corporation shall develop a Rhode Island housing champion designation

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program for all qualifying municipalities. The Rhode Island housing champion designation

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program shall be voluntary. Each municipality shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to apply

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to the commerce corporation to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation. In

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exchange for obtaining the Rhode Island housing champion designation, a municipality shall

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receive preferential access to state resources including, but not limited to, discretionary state

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infrastructure funds, as available.

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     (b) The corporation shall adopt rules to establish qualifications and procedures for a

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municipality to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation. The designation procedure

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shall be based on a scoring system.

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     (c) Qualifications to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation shall include:

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     (1) Adoption of such land use regulations and ordinances which the corporation determines

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to be necessary to promote the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing

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necessary for the economic development of the state. In this subsection, "land use regulations and

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ordinances" may include, but are not limited to, zoning ordinances to innovative land use controls,

 

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subdivision and the site plan regulations.

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     (2) Training of planning and zoning board members using, training materials and programs,

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provided by the department that cover the processes, procedures, regulations, and statutes related

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to the board on which the member serves; approved by the corporation.

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     (3) Implementation of sewer and water infrastructure improvements intended to support

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the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing necessary for the economic

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development of the state.

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     (4) Implementation of public transportation, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure

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intended to support the development of workforce housing, and other types of housing necessary

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for the economic development of the state.

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     (d) Qualifications to receive the Rhode Island housing champion designation may also

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include, but are not limited to adoption of financial tools that incentivize the development of

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workforce housing, including adoption of the community revitalization tax relief incentive program

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and establishment of municipal economic development and revitalization districts.

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     (e) Municipalities that receive a Rhode Island housing champion designation, shall

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annually report in a form required by the department. The annual report shall include such measures

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as the corporation may determine including, but not limited to, land use board applications,

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approvals and building permits.

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     (f) A Rhode Island housing champion designation shall be valid for three (3) years from

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the date such designation is awarded. A municipality may seek renewal of its Rhode Island housing

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champion designation for subsequent three (3) year periods. The corporation shall include in the

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criteria for renewal performance metrics including, but not limited to, the qualifications listed in

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subsection ยง 42-64-13.3 (c).

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     (g) Each year the corporation shall develop a report which describes all actions taken

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related to the operation of the Rhode Island housing champion designation program in the

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preceding state fiscal year and assesses the overall impact of the Rhode Island housing champion

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designation program, including an assessment of the additional housing units produced in the state

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as a result of the program's operation and incentives. The report required by this section shall be

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submitted to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the

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senate on or before November 1 of each year, beginning in 2026, and upon such submission, the

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report shall be posted online on the website of the department.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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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

***

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     This act would authorize the establishment of a Rhode Island housing champion

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designation program. This program would make qualified municipalities eligible to receive

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preferential access to state resources, including discretionary state infrastructure funds, as available.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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