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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 recovery houses 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 recovery houses that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

Land
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Speakman, Edwards, Giraldo, Cruz
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-03-13 Rhode Island General Assembly

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

  3. 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 recovery houses that are not applicable to other residential homes.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H8040

2026 -- H 8040
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LC005798
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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:
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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 recovery house means a residential structure, properly
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zoned according to a town or city’s zoning ordinance, that provides recovery support services for
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those people recovering from substance abuse addiction.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided within the general laws or applicable local zoning
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ordinances, any law, regulation or ordinance regulating the zoning and use of a residential recovery
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house:
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(1) Shall treat a recovery residence as a residential use of property which shall have all the
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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 applicable to
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residential uses in similar types of structures in the same zoning district if occupied by a household,
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as defined in § 45-24-31(37)(ii).
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005798
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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 prohibit any city or town from enacting any zoning ordinance that would
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place restrictions on residential recovery houses that are not applicable to other residential homes.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005798
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