Rhode Island 2026 Session Status: In Committee 5 D cosponsors

SB 2691 — AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Last action — 03/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 27, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 24% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against the R.I. General Laws as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill modifies the approval process for low- and moderate-income housing by altering eligibility criteria based on existing housing stock and inclusionary zoning ordinances.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-4

    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.

    The bill restricts the comprehensive permit process in municipalities with more than 10% existing low- or moderate-income housing and compliant inclusionary zoning.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-4

    A municipality shall not restrict comprehensive permit applications and permits by any locally adopted ordinance or policy that places a limit or moratorium on the development of residential units.

    The bill prohibits municipalities from imposing restrictions that limit residential development through local ordinances.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-4(b)(2)

    May, by council action, limit the annual total number of dwelling units in comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers to an aggregate of one percent (1%) of the total number of year-round housing units in the town, and notwithstanding the timetables set forth elsewhere in this section, the local review board shall have the authority to consider comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers, which are made pursuant to this subsection, sequentially in the order in which they are submitted. → May, by council action, limit the annual total number of dwelling units in comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers to an aggregate of one percent (1%) of the total number of year-round housing units in the town; notwithstanding the timetables set forth elsewhere in this section, the local review board shall have the authority to consider comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers, which are made pursuant to this subsection, sequentially in the order in which they are submitted.

    The bill clarifies the conditions under which municipalities can limit comprehensive permit applications from for-profit developers.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-4(c)(1)

    Shall make available to applications under this chapter municipal government subsidies, including adjustments and zoning incentives, to offset the differential costs of the low- or moderate-incoming housing units. At a minimum, the following zoning incentives shall be allowed for in these cities or towns for projects submitted under this chapter:

    The bill mandates that municipalities without over 10% low- or moderate-income housing must provide subsidies and zoning incentives for applicants.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-53-4(c)(1)(A)(1)

    At a minimum, the following density bonuses for projects submitted under this chapter, provided that the total land utilized in the density calculation shall exclude wetlands; area devoted to roadway infrastructure necessary for development; and easements or rights of way of record:. Lands within the following areas that are used for drinking water are not eligible for density bonuses under this chapter: public drinking water supply watersheds and ground water classified as GAA, as defined in the Rhode Island ground water regulations (250-RICR-150-05-3) are not eligible for density bonuses under this chapter.

    The bill specifies exceptions regarding density bonuses related to land used for drinking water.

Action History

  1. 03/26/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 03/20/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/26/2026)

  3. 02/27/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 109 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (109)

109 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

housing environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 2691 do?
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.
Who sponsors SB 2691?
SB 2691 is sponsored by John P. Burke (Democratic), Melissa Murray (Democratic), Alana M. DiMario (Democratic), Dawn Euer (Democratic), and Victoria Gu (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 2691?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 27, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 2691?
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