| R 380 |
| 2025 -- H 6427 Enacted 06/18/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS PROGRAM |
Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Blazejewski, and Chippendale |
| Date Introduced: June 18, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island faces a severe housing supply shortage that impacts all |
| residents, especially those with low and moderate incomes. This affordability challenge affects |
| the cost of living, limiting the state's economic competitiveness and ability to attract new talent; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, According to a 2023 report commissioned by the Rhode Island Foundation, |
| Rhode Island has the third oldest housing stock in the US, with seventy-five percent of the total |
| housing stock built before 1980. Among New England states, Rhode Island has the highest |
| percentage of housing built before 1940 and the second highest percentage of housing built before |
| 1980; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the same 2023 Rhode Island Foundation report, about one- |
| third of all households are housing cost-burdened, which means they spend more than 20 percent |
| of their income on housing-related expenses; and |
| WHEREAS, Many of these single and multifamily homes need repair, and homeowners |
| often lack the resources to maintain them; and |
| WHEREAS, Too many Rhode Islanders live in unsafe homes with leaking roofs, |
| unreliable and inefficient heat, and/or unsafe wiring. Deferred maintenance can lead to exposure |
| to mold, lead and excessively high utility bills; and |
| WHEREAS, There are energy efficiency programs to upgrade insulation and HVAC |
| units; however, many Rhode Islanders cannot take advantage of them because they are unable to |
| afford the repairs to their homes, such as upgrading electrical systems, to make them eligible for |
| these programs; and |
| WHEREAS, The programs available to help constituents repair their homes and keep |
| them safe, efficient and habitable are spread out over several state agencies and not-for-profit |
| organizations and can be difficult for homeowners to find and access; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of ten (10) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of |
| Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the |
| Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the President of the RI Builders Association, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of Rhode Island Housing, or designee; one |
| of whom shall be the President of the Housing Network of Rhode Island, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Director of the Office of Energy Resources, or designee; one of whom shall be |
| the Director of Healthy Aging, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the |
| Comprehensive Community Action Program, or designee; and one of whom shall be the CEO of |
| the Providence Revolving Fund, or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study |
| commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing |
| authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide |
| recommendations for the creation of a statewide whole-home repairs program, drawing on |
| existing programs and suggesting funding resources to fill in the gaps. This program would |
| coordinate resources for low-income homeowners and owners of small multifamily units (less |
| than 6 units) to repair their buildings, including roofing, siding, windows, electrical, heating, and |
| air conditioning, and upgrades to make the building eligible for energy efficiency programs, to |
| ensure the homes are safe and energy efficient. The resources should include, but not be limited |
| to, the Weatherization Assistance Program, utility-run energy efficiency programs, lead |
| abatement programs, and adaptive modification programs. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and organize, and shall select a chairperson. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters |
| for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives on or before January 5, 2026, and said commission shall expire on |
| March 5, 2026. |
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| LC003077 |
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