2026 -- S 2575 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004987/SUB A/4

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, Murray, Burke, and Britto

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     `SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     45-24-33.1. Recovery houses.

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     (a) For purposes of this section, a NARR-certified recovery residence means a residential

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structure that provides recovery support services for those people recovering from substance use

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addiction and that complies with standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery

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Residences (NARR).

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     (b) Except as otherwise provided within the general laws, any law, regulation or ordinance

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regulating the zoning and use of a residential NARR certified recovery residence:

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     (1) Shall treat a NARR-certified recovery residence as a residential use of property which

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shall have all the rights and responsibilities afforded to a residential use of property.

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     (2) Shall not subject the recovery residence to any restrictions, prohibitions or other

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provisions, including provisions related to the state building or fire codes that are not contained in

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the Rhode Island life safety code ยง 26.1.1.1.8.3. At no time shall a recovery residence house under

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this chapter be given the designation of a commercial structure for fire and or building codes.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC004987/SUB A/4

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

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     This act would provide guidelines regarding placing restrictions on residential recovery

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houses.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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