H8000 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS (Provides certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment can be removed or relocated.)

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Shekarchi, Speakman, Spears, Voas, DeSimone, Biah, Noret, O'Brien
Last action: 2026-05-22
Official status: Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS (Provides certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment can be removed or relocated.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS (Provides certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment can be removed or relocated.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Substitute A

Published version

Plain English: H8000A 2026 -- H 8000 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC005661/SUB A/2 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.

H8000A 2026 -- H 8000 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC005661/SUB A/2 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.
2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Speakman, Spears, Voas, DeSimone, Biah, Noret, and O'Brien Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1.
Chapter 34-37.1 of the General Laws entitled "Homeless Bill of Rights" is 2 hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 34-37.1-7.
Encampments.

Bill History

2026-05-22 Rhode Island General Assembly
Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
2026-05-05 House
House passed Sub A
2026-05-01 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on House Calendar (05/05/2026)
2026-04-29 Committee
Committee recommends passage of Sub A
2026-04-24 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (04/29/2026)
2026-04-24 Rhode Island General Assembly
Proposed Substitute
2026-04-15 Committee
Committee postponed at request of sponsor (04/15/2026)
2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (04/15/2026)
2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly
Proposed Substitute
2026-03-05 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/05/2026)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS (Provides certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment can be removed or relocated.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H8000A

2026 -- H 8000 SUBSTITUTE A
========
LC005661/SUB A/2
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

Introduced By:
Representatives Shekarchi, Speakman, Spears, Voas, DeSimone, Biah,
Noret, and O'Brien

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 34-37.1 of the General Laws entitled "Homeless Bill of Rights" is
2
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

34-37.1-7. Encampments.

4

(a) Prior to the forcible removal of encampments on public property, the removing agency
5
shall provide at least twenty (20) days written notice to the occupants stating the timeframe to
6
vacate the encampment, which shall be done by the posting of the notice on the encampment itself,
7
and shall provide a copy of such notice to the executive office of housing ("EOH") and the Regional
8
Access Points identified and listed by the EOH, unless:
9

(1) Such encampments are located within a state or federal right of way and there is an
10
immediate public safety need for the removal of the encampment; or
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(2) Such encampments are located in or directly adjacent to an active construction site; or
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(3) The encampment interferes with scheduled public infrastructure repairs, maintenance
13
or inspections; or
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(4) The encampment is on or near an area which has environmental hazards; or
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(5) There is otherwise an immediate and documented public safety or health concern
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regarding the location of the encampment.
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(b) An encampment is defined as a temporary shelter erected outdoors in public spaces not
18
meant for human habitation which may be inhabited by an individual or individuals, and such term
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refers to both individuals and their respective personal belongings.

1

(c) The movement of an encampment by the occupants to another area on the same lot, or
2
a contiguous lot after a written notice is given to that same encampment in subsection (a) of this
3
section shall not require a new notice or new notice period prior to removal.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on October 1, 2026.
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LC005661/SUB A/2
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LC005661/SUB A/2 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS
***
1
This act would provide certain procedures that must be followed before an encampment
2
can be removed or relocated.
3
This act would take effect on October 1, 2026.
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LC005661/SUB A/2
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LC005661/SUB A/2 - Page 3 of 3