Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7446: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Eliminates mandated housing densities/density bonuses fo
Status: Failed, April 7, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Eliminates mandated housing densities/density bonuses for public drinking water supply watersheds/groundwater. Requires densities not exceed water availability, introduce pollution, stay within public water or sewer system capacity limits.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 30, 2026:
2026 -- H 7446 ======== LC004172 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, McGaw, Fogarty, Edwards, Santucci, Quattrocchi, Chippendale, Casimiro, Newberry, and Roberts Date Introduced: January 30, 2026 Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 45-53-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-53 entitled "Low and Moderate Income Housing" is hereby amended to read as follows: 45-53-4. Procedure for approval of construction of low- or moderate-income housing. [Effective January 1, 2026, inclusive of existing language in § 45-53-4.] (a) Any applicant proposing to build low- or moderate-income housing may submit to the local review board a single application for a comprehensive permit to build that housing in lieu of separate applications to the applicable local boards. This procedure is only available for proposals in which at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the housing is low- or moderate-income housing. This procedure is not available in cities and towns that have low- or moderate-income housing in excess of ten percent (10%) of its year-round housing units which also have an inclusionary zoning ordinance which complies with § 45-24-46.1. (b) Cities and towns that have low- or moderate-income housing in excess of …
Sponsors
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039) · primary sponsor
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
- Paul Santucci (R)
- Robert Quattrocchi (R)
- Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031)
- Brian Newberry (R, HD-048)
- Sherry Roberts (R)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
Subjects: TOWNS AND CITIES
Common questions
- What is H7446?
- H7446 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Eliminates mandated housing densities/density bonuses fo.
- What does H7446 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING (Eliminates mandated housing densities/density bonuses for public drinking water supply watersheds/groundwater. Requires densities not exceed water availability, introduce pollution, stay within public water or sewer system capacity limits.)
- What is the status of H7446?
- Failed as of April 7, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 7, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7446?
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7446?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7446.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.