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H8279 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

Housing
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Costantino, Santucci
Last action
2026-04-15
Official status
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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 -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

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.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-15 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-10 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/15/2026)

  3. 2026-03-11 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H8279

2026 -- H 8279
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LC005950
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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 -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Introduced By:
Representatives Costantino, and Santucci

Date Introduced:
March 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 45-53 of the General Laws entitled "Low and Moderate Income
2
Housing" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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45-53-17. Smithfield emergency moratorium.

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(a) If the town of Smithfield, shall at any time have an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250)
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or more units proposed in a comprehensive permit project or projects, the town of Smithfield may
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enact an emergency moratorium and not accept or process further applications. No application
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proposed, offered, submitted or tendered during any moratorium imposed pursuant to the
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provisions of this section shall have any grandfathered status.
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(b) The town of Smithfield, upon adoption of any moratorium in accordance with the
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provisions of subsection (a) of this section, may continue to impose the moratorium until such time
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as comprehensive permit requirements in § 45-53-4 are amended.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005950
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING
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1
This act would authorize the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250)
2
or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency
3
moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005950
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