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S2906A
2026 -- S 2906 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC005528/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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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:
Senators Valverde, Kallman, DiMario, Gu, Bissaillon, Quezada, and
Mack
Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island is experiencing a serious shortage of housing for all but the
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highest income levels; and
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WHEREAS, Our state government is prioritizing housing development and production
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through numerous and varied policies, incentives, and programs; and
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WHEREAS, Condominiums represent an opportunity to greatly increase the supply of
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both naturally occurring and deed restricted affordable housing in the State of Rhode Island; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s condominium laws have not had comprehensive review in
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several decades; and
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WHEREAS, Condominium management is highly complex as it is dictated by both
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statutory and contractual obligations, which may be in tension to one another; and
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WHEREAS, The complexity of condominiums may impact the understanding unit
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owners and condominium board members have as to their rights and responsibilities, leading to
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conflict and disagreement, thus ultimately impacting ownership satisfaction, the quality of life
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within the condominium community, affordability and sustainability; and
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WHEREAS, Rising costs of day-to-day and long-term capital needs contribute to
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instability and unaffordability for condominium unit owners and associations alike; now,
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therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of sixteen (16) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island
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House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by
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the Speaker of the House; three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two
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(2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom
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shall be the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing, or designee; one of whom shall be the
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Executive Director of the Community Housing Land Trust of Rhode Island, or designee; one of
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whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, or
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designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Builders Association, or
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designee; one of whom shall be a representative of a lending institution making mortgages
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available to individual owners of condominiums and loans to condominium associations, to be
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appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative of the insurance
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industry who has expertise in underwriting insurance policies for condominium owners and
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associations, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be an attorney
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with expertise in condominium law, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House after
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consultation with the House Minority Leader; one of whom shall be a representative of a property
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management company with expertise in providing management services to condominium
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associations, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be a current
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owner of a condominium in the State of Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the
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House; and one of whom shall be a current owner of a condominium in the State of Rhode
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Island, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.
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In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study
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commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing
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authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study identifying
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existing challenges within Rhode Island’s current condominium law and potential need for
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changes to allow for greater participation in condominium governance, greater efficacy,
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transparency and accountability within condominium management and improved long-term
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affordability of condominiums for all unit owners and associations. The study shall include, but
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not be limited to:
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Examination of Uniform Acts from other states;
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Identification constraints and challenges within current law that impede accessibly and
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transparency within condominium governance;
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Identification of constraints and challenges within the current law and general conditions
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of the market that make cost containment and ongoing affordability challenging;
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Consideration as to whether low- and moderate-income housing units have additional
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affordability constraints that warrants specific consideration in condominium fee and
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special assessment setting;
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Examine best practices for improving purchaser understanding of condominium
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ownership and governance;
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Examine best practices for conflict resolution between condominium owners and
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condominium association; and
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Consider resources that are available or could be made available to address affordability
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challenges within condominium associations and/or unit owners.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at
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the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate and organize and shall select
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from among the legislators, co-chairpersons.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the
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General Assembly no later than December 31, 2027, and said commission shall expire on March
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15, 2028.
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