| R 429 |
| 2026 -- H 8008 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/19/2026 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY CURRENT CONDOMINIUM LAW AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ONGOING AFFORDABILITY OF CONDOMINIUMS IN RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, and Boylan |
| Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is experiencing a serious shortage of housing for all but the |
| highest income levels; and |
| WHEREAS, Our state government is prioritizing housing development and production |
| through numerous and varied policies, incentives, and programs; and |
| WHEREAS, Condominiums represent an opportunity to greatly increase the supply of |
| both naturally occurring and deed restricted affordable housing in the State of Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s condominium laws have not had comprehensive review in |
| several decades; and |
| WHEREAS, Condominium management is highly complex as it is dictated by both |
| statutory and contractual obligations, which may be in tension to one another; and |
| WHEREAS, The complexity of condominiums may impact the understanding unit |
| owners and condominium board members have as to their rights and responsibilities, leading to |
| conflict and disagreement, thus ultimately impacting ownership satisfaction, the quality of life |
| within the condominium community, affordability and sustainability; and |
| WHEREAS, Rising costs of day-to-day and long-term capital needs contribute to |
| instability and unaffordability for condominium unit owners and associations alike; now, |
| therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island |
| House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by |
| the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two |
| (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom |
| shall be the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing, or designee; one of whom shall be the |
| Executive Director of the Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island, or designee; one of |
| whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Builders Association, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be a representative of a lending institution making mortgages |
| available to individual owners of condominiums and loans to condominium associations, to be |
| appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative of the insurance |
| industry who has expertise in underwriting insurance policies for condominium owners and |
| associations, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be an attorney |
| with expertise in condominium law, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House after |
| consultation with the House Minority Leader; one of whom shall be a representative of a property |
| management company with expertise in providing management services to condominium |
| associations, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a current |
| owner of a condominium in the State of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
| House; and one of whom shall be a current owner of a condominium in the State of Rhode |
| Island, to be appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| 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 identifying |
| existing challenges within Rhode Island’s current condominium law and potential need for |
| changes to allow for greater participation in condominium governance, greater efficacy, |
| transparency and accountability within condominium management and improved long-term |
| affordability of condominiums for all unit owners and associations. The study shall include, but |
| not be limited to: |
| Examination of Uniform Acts from other states; |
| Identification constraints and challenges within current law that impede accessibly and |
| transparency within condominium governance; |
| Identification of constraints and challenges within the current law and general conditions |
| of the market that make cost containment and ongoing affordability challenging; |
| Consideration as to whether low- and moderate-income housing units have additional |
| affordability constraints that warrants specific consideration in condominium fee and |
| special assessment setting; |
| Examine best practices for improving purchaser understanding of condominium |
| ownership and governance; |
| Examine best practices for conflict resolution between condominium owners and |
| condominium association; and |
| Consider resources that are available or could be made available to address affordability |
| challenges within condominium associations and/or unit owners. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate and organize and shall select |
| from among the legislators, co-chairpersons. |
| 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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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 |
| General Assembly no later than December 31, 2027, and said commission shall expire on March |
| 15, 2028. |
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