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H8040 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

Housing Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, Cruz
Last action
2026-06-19
Official status
Signed by Governor
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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

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.

Published version

Plain English: H8040A 2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC005798/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.

  • H8040A 2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC005798/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.
  • 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, and Cruz Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1.
  • Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 45-24-33.1.
  • NARR-certified recovery residences.
Published version

Plain English: H8040Aaa 2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED ======== LC005798/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.

  • H8040Aaa 2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED ======== LC005798/SUB A ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.
  • 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, and Cruz Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1.
  • Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby 2 amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 45-24-33.1.
  • Recovery houses.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-19 Governor

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2026-06-16 Governor

    Transmitted to Governor

  3. 2026-06-11 House

    House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

  4. 2026-06-11 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)

  5. 2026-06-11 Senate

    Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

  6. 2026-06-10 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)

  7. 2026-06-03 Committee

    Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  8. 2026-05-29 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for consideration (06/03/2026)

  9. 2026-05-29 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Proposed Substitute

  10. 2026-03-17 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  11. 2026-03-13 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/17/2026)

  12. 2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES (Prohibits any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H8040Aaa

2026 -- H 8040 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
========
LC005798/SUB A
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

Introduced By:
Representatives Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, and Cruz

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 45-24 of the General Laws entitled "Zoning Ordinances" is hereby
2
amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

45-24-33.1. Recovery houses.

4

(a) For purposes of this section, a NARR-certified recovery residence means a residential
5
structure that provides recovery support services for those people recovering from substance use
6
addiction and that complies with standards established by the National Alliance for Recovery
7
Residences (NARR).
8

(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.
12

(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 § 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.
========
LC005798/SUB A
========

EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES
***
1
This act would prohibit any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would
2
place restrictions on residential NARR-certified recovery residences that are not applicable to other
3
residential homes.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC005798/SUB A
========

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