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2/26/2026
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Speaker Shekarchi announces 2026 housing legislation
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 STATE HOUSE – House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi today announced a nine-bill package of legislation regarding housing issues, his sixth comprehensive suite of housing bills since becoming Speaker in 2021.
“Our advocacy is working: Rhode Island is becoming a model for housing policy in other states. We’ve passed more than 60 new housing laws that are having real results. The creation of a new land use court calendar reduced the backlog of pending cases nearly in half within its first year of implementation. It’s no coincidence that reducing red tape has led to a significant rise in building permits. In 2023, we had a 70% rise in building permits, the most in a single year since the Great Recession.
“But building takes time, and we are still trying to play catch-up for all the years that Rhode Island was dead last in the country for new housing starts. While Rhode Island remains a relatively affordable option for people moving here from other states, our own residents are too often priced out of the neighborhoods they grew up in. The sad reality is that there is a direct correlation between rising housing costs and increased homelessness. This winter alone, at least four people froze to death because they were unhoused. That is completely unacceptable. Until all of our neighbors have a safe place to sleep at night, this work must continue.”
Speaker Shekarchi was joined by Rep. June S. Speakman (D-Dist. 68, Warren, Bristol), chair of the Special Legislative Commission to Affordable Housing; Rep. Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), chair of the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing; Thomas E. Deller, chair of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Land Use; Randy Rossi, Executive Director, and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva, President of Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns; John Marcantonio, Chief Executive Officer, Rhode Island Builders Association; Cortney Nicolato, President and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island, members of both commissions; legislators; housing and homelessness advocates; builders; and developers.
“Once again, Speaker Shekarchi is leading the way with a package of housing bills that provides greater flexibility for land use, establishes more efficient and expeditious approval processes and provides incentives for developers to build the types of housing that Rhode Islanders need now. And this year in particular, the package addresses the struggles that renters sometime face finding affordable stable housing that meets their families’ needs,” said Chair Speakman.
“As chair of the Municipal Government and Housing Committee, I’ve seen firsthand the depth of our state’s housing crisis and I applaud Speaker Shekarchi for working to address the crisis for the last five years since becoming Speaker,” said Chairman Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket). “I'm proud of the progress we have made in the General Assembly and I look forward to shepherding this package of bills through committee.”
“This package of bills builds upon the hard work we’ve already done to make Rhode Island housing more affordable,” said Rep Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls), who serves as vice chairman of the Special Legislative Commission to Study Housing Affordability. “Our dialogue with builders, planners and other housing experts have led to positive, creative and practical changes to law and public policy to make Rhode Island a leader in housing affordability.”
The legislation announced today is a continuation of Speaker Shekarchi’s efforts to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. In his previous legislative packages, Speaker Shekarchi has implemented significant reforms to make the development process in Rhode Island more consistent, concise, and equitable. The legislation has also been influenced by two housing commissions established by Speaker Shekarchi. His legislation is intended to be responsive to feedback from all stakeholders, and in that spirit, some of the legislation announced today would amend existing housing laws.
“This package of bills from the Speaker is the next step in his continuing effort to reduce the regulatory barriers that have slowed the development of housing,” said Thomas E. Deller, Johnston Town Planner and Chair of the House’s Land Use Commission. “In the communities that have fully embraced the legislative changes adopted as part of the Speaker’s housing agenda, we have seen increases in the number of housing units developed. The Speaker’s housing agenda is essential to meet the housing needs of the residents of Rhode Island.”
Much of the legislation stems from testimony and discussions of both commissions, which have been meeting regularly since July 2022 to address ways Rhode Island can meet its affordable housing needs in a manner that is sustainable and equitable.
“Speaker Shekarchi continues to demonstrate effective leadership on the housing crisis and does so with collaboration, thought, and the best of intent. He continues to make the progress, continues to create the policies, and continues to better the housing production environment and the housing needs for Rhode Island,” said John Marcantonio, Chief Executive Officer of the Rhode Island Builders Association.
“Across Rhode Island, cities and towns are making real progress in expanding housing opportunities,” said Randy Rossi, Executive Director of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns. “We thank the Speaker for his continued partnership and for working with municipalities. The League looks forward to continuing to work closely with the House and Senate this session to advance practical, technical improvements that reflect the experience of our members on the front lines.”
“While we have made great progress as a state around the housing crisis, the fact remains that housing instability continues to be the most urgent issue facing Rhode Island families who call 211 each day.” said Cortney Nicolato, President and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. “This package of bills adds much needed flexibility to regulatory practices and offers innovative incentives for developers, aimed at ensuring all Rhode Islanders can have a safe and affordable place to call home.”
The bills announced today are:
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Infill subdivision for housing: sponsored by House Municipal Government and Housing Committee Chairman Stephen M. Casey (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), this legislation would allow property owners in areas with water and sewer capacity to subdivide property for single family residential development under certain limited conditions and requirements.
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Parking maximums: sponsored by Representative Joshua J. Giraldo (D-Dist. 56, Central Falls), this legislation would establish maximum parking requirements for multifamily housing in areas accessible by public transit. It follows initiatives in other states in reducing parking requirements.
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Homeless Bill of Rights: sponsored by Speaker Shekarchi, this legislation would add a requirement to Rhode Island’s existing Homeless Bill of Rights (sponsored in 2012 by then-Representative Christopher R. Blazejewski) that at least a 15-day notice be given to the individuals/families impacted by disbanding an encampment, subject to emergency and safety exceptions.
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SAFE bill: this legislation, sponsored by Speaker Shekarchi, would enable cities and towns to allow Supportive and Functional Emergency units (“SAFE Units,” such as pallet shelters) on a temporary basis during a declaration of an emergency. This legislation, which was sponsored by Speaker Shekarchi last year (2025-H 5100) and passed in the House but not in the Senate, would enable cities and towns to respond quickly in the event of severe weather and/or natural or man-made disasters.
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Single staircase: sponsored by Chair Speakman, this legislation would modify the state building code to allow for single staircase construction in residential buildings up to four floors and 16 units but the construction would still be subject to all applicable fire code requirements.
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Technical amendments: sponsored by Representative Robert E. Craven, Sr. (D-Dist. 32, North Kingstown), this legislation is based on feedback received by the Land Use Commission and various stakeholders, including local municipalities, developers, planners, and other advocates. The legislation seeks to clarify and amend the processes, terms, references, and requirements set forth in the Zoning Enabling Act, Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Act, and Subdivision Act.
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Vacant land/properties: sponsored by Representative Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick), this legislation would allow the adaptive reuse of state-owned vacant buildings by right. The legislation would enable the redevelopment/adaptive reuse of vacant municipal buildings into housing and also amends the redevelopment program to convert municipal schools.
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Commission to study and review the Condominium Act: sponsored by Chair Speakman, this legislation would establish a commission to study potential modernization of and updates to the state’s Condominium Act, which has not been reviewed or amended in more than a decade.
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Affordable housing tax assessment and valuation: sponsored by Representative Scott A. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence), this legislation would provide limits on the tax rates for the new construction of residential rental units which include certain percentages of affordable housing in either new construction of adaptive reuse projects.
For more information, contact:
Emily Martineau, Deputy Director of Communications for the Office of the Speaker
State House Room 323
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2466
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